Bump goes my big night as Cromwell

WHILE at school in East London in the early Sixties, I was keen on drama. I discovered that I could write scripts, as well as act, in school plays. Our drama teacher was excellent and I joined an afterschool club. To teach me to project my voice, I was asked to do readings at morning assembly. I stood up in front of a sea of pupils who were smirking and pulling faces in an attempt to put me off. The drama teacher would be at the back of the hall, raising both arms, to encourage me to speak up. Having survived the public readings, I featured in several plays. Then there was the chance to appear in a short film. The drama teacher was casting the main characters and he turned to me. Surely I would get a star role? I was taken aback when he said: ‘You can play the First Lout — it’s a part you are eminently suited for!’ It could have been worse because there was a Second Lout and Third Lout in this gritty drama. At least I had some dialogue. My finest moment was playing Oliver Cromwell in a school production. I revelled in my lead role. In one scene I was sitting next to a guard, who was standing and holding a pikestaff. I got up to make a dramatic point — and banged my head on the top of the pikestaff. The guard tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh and there was an audible ripple of laughter from the audience. But as a true leading man, I just carried on. That guard was too close to me. Well, that’s what I told myself!

Don Townshend, Chelmsford, Essex.