A Chapter-By-Chapter Synopsis of Part 2: A Man in England
20: London Calling
Arriving in England in 1966, a fresh-faced 18 year-old from Rhodesia, I take a series of part-time jobs to fund my coaching to audition for RADA: from petrol pump attendant to Gents’ Underwear in the Army and Navy Store, via Frozen Foods at Selfridge’s, I grow up fast.
21: Jessie P. Knight’s Academy of Dramatic Art
Having failed my audition at RADA, I find myself at the Academy of the eccentric and wonderful Jessie P. Knight, with a cape, a wig and a wart on the end of her tongue.
22: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Determined to secure a place at RADA, I reapply and am accepted for a 7-term course. Along with the growing pains of a struggling drama student, this chapter also includes details of what was going on politically in England and Rhodesia during a turbulent time both home and abroad.
23: Cambridge Theatre Company
My first job on leaving RADA was with the wonderful director, Richard Cottrell as an Assistant Stage Manager, making cups of tea for actor, James Bolam. The realities of an acting career kick in.
24: Back-to-Back with Butterfly
Called to audition for the role of Steve McQueen’s brother in a big Hollywood movie, I find myself standing in a London hotel, back to back with the great man himself. I think my career is made...
25: The Royal Shakespeare Company
My first years with the RSC and my time in the West End with Peter Ustinov, Dinsdale Landon and Judi Dench, in a series of acclaimed productions.
26: ‘Thou Shalt Not Lie’
Arriving late for the first day of rehearsals for Trevor Nunn, I decide the only good excuse is to say my mother has just died. There are repercussions when Judi Dench meets my mother, Daphne, in the corridor on Press Night...
27: Cunning Stunts and Shaggy Dogs
Tales of my brief time as a horse-riding stunt man on Tony Richardson’s acclaimed film of Joseph Andrews, as well as auditioning dogs for the West End, when playing Bill Sykes in Sam Mendes’ production of Oliver!
28: The Good Soldier Schweik
Several wonderful years with Richard Cottrell at the Bristol Old Vic in the height of its heyday, including Brecht’s wonderful play, The Good Soldier Schweik.
29: From the West End...
After an afternoon of intoxicating substances, I find myself ‘having a nervous breakdown’ and walking out of Tom Conti’s West End production of a Rodney Ackland play starring Jane Asher...
30:...to the Greek Isle
...and setting off to Parga in Greece to become a fisherman. There I stay for almost a year, when on coming back to England to pick up some discotheque equipment...
31: My Return to the British Stage
...I’m called to the Aldwych Theatre to audition for John Barton, Barry Kyle and John Caird for a series of lead roles at the RSC. Much as I’d rather run a discotheque in Greece, I find myself back on the British stage.
32: Who’s a Bear?
An encounter with a honey bear, after visiting the Iban head-hunters and imbibing of their intoxicating substances, leads to my becoming the stuff of myth and legend.
33: Playing Dog
At the RSC, I take the role of Dog in The Witch of Edmonton opposite Miriam Karlin and win a number of awards.
34: Trevor Nunn
Various tales of working with one of the UK’s finest stage directors.
35: Peter Pan
I enter the Guinness Book of Records as the First Male Peter Pan in Trevor Nunn’s production at the Barbican, London, although the flying equipment frequently leaves me suspended in mid-air, as well as granting me a serious bout of piles.
36: The Man of Mode
Back at the RSC, I take on a challenging role in a challenging production, and reveal that all isn’t always easy when you’re working at the top of your profession...
37: Gun Bus
A crazy time with a foreign director on this mad film made for Disney leads to a number of misunderstandings and what the director really wants becomes lost in translation...
38: Cry Freedom!
Working with Richard Attenborough, Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington on a film the content of which was both politically and geographically dear to me.
39: Soldier, Soldier
Tales of mischief with Robson Green and army antics, and what you get away with in uniform – or not...
40: House of Cards
One of the most rewarding and exciting pieces of television, and a few pieces of inside information about how I created an Irish, cocaine-snorting PR guy.
41: ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery’
Having been married to two wonderful women and co-habited with another, Colonels, Cads and Charmers would be incomplete without some reference to Fiona, Diane and Lesley.
42: ‘Thou Shalt Honour Thy Father and Mother’
Tales of my mother and father in their mature years, and how they ended their days under British skies.
43: Bob and Diane
As the book draw towards its conclusion, I share a series of tragic-comic tales, the first chapter of which features the wonderful actors, Bob Peck and Diane Bull, both of whom died far too soon and both of whom I became extremely close to in their final months.
44: Holby City
My own ‘brush with death’ came playing an ongoing character in the television series, Holby City. As my own character died of cancer, I shared correspondence with a friend who was dying of the same cancer in real life. A poignant friendship.
45: ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’
I killed a man. While riding my motorbike. On the Earls Court Road. Having spent my youth shooting fowl and beasts, inadvertently killing a human being was a deep and unforgettable experience.
46: Bob’s Funeral
I end the book with what for me is a culmination of death and humour in a true tragicomic tradition. Having been asked to run the funeral of my dear friend and American actor, Bob Sherman, this is the story of how everything went awry – from the cardboard coffin to the black Baptist choir.
20: London Calling
Arriving in England in 1966, a fresh-faced 18 year-old from Rhodesia, I take a series of part-time jobs to fund my coaching to audition for RADA: from petrol pump attendant to Gents’ Underwear in the Army and Navy Store, via Frozen Foods at Selfridge’s, I grow up fast.
21: Jessie P. Knight’s Academy of Dramatic Art
Having failed my audition at RADA, I find myself at the Academy of the eccentric and wonderful Jessie P. Knight, with a cape, a wig and a wart on the end of her tongue.
22: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Determined to secure a place at RADA, I reapply and am accepted for a 7-term course. Along with the growing pains of a struggling drama student, this chapter also includes details of what was going on politically in England and Rhodesia during a turbulent time both home and abroad.
23: Cambridge Theatre Company
My first job on leaving RADA was with the wonderful director, Richard Cottrell as an Assistant Stage Manager, making cups of tea for actor, James Bolam. The realities of an acting career kick in.
24: Back-to-Back with Butterfly
Called to audition for the role of Steve McQueen’s brother in a big Hollywood movie, I find myself standing in a London hotel, back to back with the great man himself. I think my career is made...
25: The Royal Shakespeare Company
My first years with the RSC and my time in the West End with Peter Ustinov, Dinsdale Landon and Judi Dench, in a series of acclaimed productions.
26: ‘Thou Shalt Not Lie’
Arriving late for the first day of rehearsals for Trevor Nunn, I decide the only good excuse is to say my mother has just died. There are repercussions when Judi Dench meets my mother, Daphne, in the corridor on Press Night...
27: Cunning Stunts and Shaggy Dogs
Tales of my brief time as a horse-riding stunt man on Tony Richardson’s acclaimed film of Joseph Andrews, as well as auditioning dogs for the West End, when playing Bill Sykes in Sam Mendes’ production of Oliver!
28: The Good Soldier Schweik
Several wonderful years with Richard Cottrell at the Bristol Old Vic in the height of its heyday, including Brecht’s wonderful play, The Good Soldier Schweik.
29: From the West End...
After an afternoon of intoxicating substances, I find myself ‘having a nervous breakdown’ and walking out of Tom Conti’s West End production of a Rodney Ackland play starring Jane Asher...
30:...to the Greek Isle
...and setting off to Parga in Greece to become a fisherman. There I stay for almost a year, when on coming back to England to pick up some discotheque equipment...
31: My Return to the British Stage
...I’m called to the Aldwych Theatre to audition for John Barton, Barry Kyle and John Caird for a series of lead roles at the RSC. Much as I’d rather run a discotheque in Greece, I find myself back on the British stage.
32: Who’s a Bear?
An encounter with a honey bear, after visiting the Iban head-hunters and imbibing of their intoxicating substances, leads to my becoming the stuff of myth and legend.
33: Playing Dog
At the RSC, I take the role of Dog in The Witch of Edmonton opposite Miriam Karlin and win a number of awards.
34: Trevor Nunn
Various tales of working with one of the UK’s finest stage directors.
35: Peter Pan
I enter the Guinness Book of Records as the First Male Peter Pan in Trevor Nunn’s production at the Barbican, London, although the flying equipment frequently leaves me suspended in mid-air, as well as granting me a serious bout of piles.
36: The Man of Mode
Back at the RSC, I take on a challenging role in a challenging production, and reveal that all isn’t always easy when you’re working at the top of your profession...
37: Gun Bus
A crazy time with a foreign director on this mad film made for Disney leads to a number of misunderstandings and what the director really wants becomes lost in translation...
38: Cry Freedom!
Working with Richard Attenborough, Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington on a film the content of which was both politically and geographically dear to me.
39: Soldier, Soldier
Tales of mischief with Robson Green and army antics, and what you get away with in uniform – or not...
40: House of Cards
One of the most rewarding and exciting pieces of television, and a few pieces of inside information about how I created an Irish, cocaine-snorting PR guy.
41: ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery’
Having been married to two wonderful women and co-habited with another, Colonels, Cads and Charmers would be incomplete without some reference to Fiona, Diane and Lesley.
42: ‘Thou Shalt Honour Thy Father and Mother’
Tales of my mother and father in their mature years, and how they ended their days under British skies.
43: Bob and Diane
As the book draw towards its conclusion, I share a series of tragic-comic tales, the first chapter of which features the wonderful actors, Bob Peck and Diane Bull, both of whom died far too soon and both of whom I became extremely close to in their final months.
44: Holby City
My own ‘brush with death’ came playing an ongoing character in the television series, Holby City. As my own character died of cancer, I shared correspondence with a friend who was dying of the same cancer in real life. A poignant friendship.
45: ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’
I killed a man. While riding my motorbike. On the Earls Court Road. Having spent my youth shooting fowl and beasts, inadvertently killing a human being was a deep and unforgettable experience.
46: Bob’s Funeral
I end the book with what for me is a culmination of death and humour in a true tragicomic tradition. Having been asked to run the funeral of my dear friend and American actor, Bob Sherman, this is the story of how everything went awry – from the cardboard coffin to the black Baptist choir.
