Date of Birth:

"19^th May 1936"

Where have you trained?

"At the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London."

What do you remember of your first acting performance?

"A one-act play where I played a 70-year-old woman who spoke with a Scottish Accent."

How many plays have you acted in?

"In hundreds. In over the first 3 years alone, over 300."

How many plays have you directed?

"I’ve directed between 70 and 100 plays."

What is your favorite role in a play?

"Mercutio, in Romeo and Juliet."

What is your motivation behind your work?

"The students, unquestionably."

Define "Theatre" after having experienced every aspect of it.

"A series of paradoxes. Theatre is life expanded and at the same time put under a microscope. Theatre is a magic world of unreal realism and lies that tell the truth. Theatre is what runs through my veins in place of blood. Theatre is wonderfully terrible and terribly wonderful. Theatre is what happens when the curtain goes up. Theatre is what surrounds us everyday and it isn’t on stage. You can look at anything, and in the right perspective, it can be deemed theatre. Theatre is a window into infinite possibility. Theatre is the most overcrowded profession in the world. Why? Because it shouldn’t tolerate anything but perfection. But sadly, it does. What I feel about Theatre is what I feel about life because theatre is life and life is theatre – its that simple.

Do you any regrets about your career in Theatre?

"I have no regrets whatsoever about Theatre."

What do you prefer, being a performer or a teacher?

"It varies. I can’t prefer one over the other. Rehearsal to me is a wonderful voyage of discovery. Its hard work as a teacher and as a performer."

What are your views on education today?

"Education should never be rigid. Everybody is different and must be treated as individuals. Education is about expansion, rigidity is about holding in. The best education is the kind you do for yourself. There is such a difference between teaching and learning. Teaching happens inside the classroom, learning happens outside the classroom. "Never believe anything that you have read in the newspapers!" unless it Mathematics…

What are your impressions about our class.

"Love it. So many different opinions backgrounds. I learn a great deal from it. Its two-way traffic.

Do you ever plan on retiring?