Tim Hardy

Sixteen years old, at school, and a boy I'd never met was waiting for me after class.

"Do you want to play Antonio the Sea Captain in Twelfth Night?"

"Er....you must have the wrong person. I've never acted in my life and have absolutely no interest in doing so."

"Actually....we've asked everyone else. You're our last hope."

"As in bottom of the barrel, you mean."

"Yes."

"Thanks."

"You wouldn't have to act or anything! Just say the lines."

And that's what I did. No acting - there wasn't time. Just the lines, and mostly in the right order.

"Well done, boy!  You're quite good at this."

The English Master. It was the first time at the school that anyone had said I was good at something. Anything.

That's how it started. And I've been trying to be quite good at it ever since.