From the Archive: One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson

With our venues still in lockdown, we take the chance to look back on some of the memorable performances of recent years. Today we look back on my interview with One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson on his return to the stage three years ago in Chichester…

The headmaster in Alan Bennett’s Forty Years On – the opening play in the 2017 Chichester Festival Theatre summer season (April 21-May 20) – is Richard Wilson’s first major role since his heart attack last August.

Richard, known to millions as TV’s Victor Meldrew, reckons the play will offer just the right start to the summer: “What is wonderful about it is that it has got a lot of music and a lot of dancing and a lot of children in it. A lot of Chichester children. 52 of them!

“But I was also interested because it was Daniel Evans’ first choice of play as artistic director at Chichester Festival Theatre. I thought that sounds interesting, and because I had the heart attack last year, I was getting a bit bored. I was very pleased that he asked me to do it.

“We have known each other a long time. I was his associate director in Sheffield when he was there. When he said he was going to Chichester, he said to me ‘Would you like to come?’ It didn’t take a lot of thinking about.”

As for that heart attack: “Well, I don’t know. It’s a bit of a worry, of course. I have done a bit of radio since. Some days, it is on your mind; some days, it isn’t. So yes, I am excited about this – but also yes, I am worried.

“I was offered a part in the initial production of (Alan Bennett’s) The History Boys, but I was directing a play at the National. It would have meant I would be working during the day and doing The History Boys in the evening, and I thought that was too much. I was too old. So, no, I have not done a lot of Bennett, but I have known him for some time, and he is a great character.

“I have never played a headmaster before. I don’t think I have ever played a teacher. But this particular headteacher is not like me at all. He is a bit out of date in his thinking. He is a bit old-fashioned for me. I think I am more open-minded in my thinking than he is. He is of the old school, and it is his last day at school. I think from time to time that it is a jolly good job he is leaving… a jolly good job for him and for the play. I don’t think you will warm to him. But he is quite funny hopefully, and people may take to him. I think the writer rather took to him. To have had John Gielgud playing him was quite something.

Last summer, Richard was in Chichester to direct Fracked in the Minerva. 40 Years On, however, is his first time acting in the city. Fracked is going out on tour. Richard is happy not to have redirected the tour: “I would not have been doing this now.

“And the one thing I am very clear about is that if I am acting, I am acting; if I am directing, I am directing; and that the two don’t mix. I never let them cross over. Initially I went into acting and then I started directing. I had no desire to be a director, and then I realised when I did both that I liked the idea of directing something, then acting, then directing something, then acting.

“But I do think I am a better director than I am as an actor. Just looking back at my career, I think I am happier with some of my productions than I am with some of my performances. There was one time when I thought I was going to become a director and then stay a director. And then I decided not to. One of the things I told myself was that if I was going to continue to act, then I should remember as an actor some of the things I might tell myself as a director and pay more attention!”

Why running is my lockdown release

Chichester Singers combine musically in isolation for beautiful video

Lockdown Laughs 4 Parents switches online for comedy in your own home

Why walking is what we all need at the moment - especially in glorious Sussex

Shakespeare’s Globe makes productions available to watch for free during lockdown

How you can still enjoy Sussex delights... from the safety of your armchair

Up close but safe: enjoy collections online at Royal Pavilion & Museums in Brighton

Chichester orchestra records its own lockdown song

Coronavirus: top ten tips for boredom-busting during quarantine

Singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe live-streams daily message of hope during the coronavirus crisis

Music "more important than ever" in our time of crisis, urges West Sussex Music

Coronavirus: live streaming for Sunday morning services at Chichester Cathedral

Coronavirus: Festival of Chichester 2020 cancelled

*************

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Gary Shipton

Editorial Director