My favourite memory
One favourite memory would be directing 84 Charing Cross Road, to lovely feedback, hushed houses and rapturous, unexpected applause. It’s a very static play but tells a moving story based on the book of letters between an American writer and a London antiquarian bookseller. (After watching it Tony Hawkes said as an actor I was ok but as a director I was outstanding).
I was lucky to have the fabulous cast of Howard Caine as the bookseller and Lisa Creighton as the American writer Helene Hanff. Best of all, we had an amazing set built for us by Ken Radcliffe and David Higgins, featuring hundreds of old books borrowed from Douglas Library thanks to librarian John Bowring. My goodness they were dusty (they were later sold off to make room for town hall expansion when the library moved, I bought some).
I can still remember the tinkling shop bell on the stage, and the gold painted writing on the door. It’s when I knew my acting days were over and I preferred directing, unleashing my inner control freak!