An Autobiography Ian Likes: Beginning by Kenneth Branagh

In 1989, Kenneth Branagh was on the cusp of greatness. An acclaimed stage actor, he had just released his filmed version of Shakespeare’s Henry V onto a public that adored it, hailing him as the greatest Shakespearean actor since Olivier (which may have been premature since Olivier was still alive at this point. How did … Continue reading An Autobiography Ian Likes: Beginning by Kenneth Branagh →

A “Biography” Ian Likes: I, An Actor by Nicholas Craig

Now Ego is on the stage and walking swirly-burly. A thought. What a strange word ‘stage’ is: sta-ge, ssssssstttttttaaaaaagggggeeeeeeee, stage. Trembling, Ego reaches the microphone (so no need to project). ‘Must speak,’ thinks Ego, ‘must kiss. No, must speak first – then kiss.’ Words tumble. Nicholas Craig’s memoir begins, like all the best showbiz memoirs, … Continue reading A “Biography” Ian Likes: I, An Actor by Nicholas Craig →

The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 20: Hogfather

Christmas stories are a comparatively recent phenomenon in literature (Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol was published in 1843, less than 200 years ago) but Christmas as we know it today can probably be dated to a similar age: frankly, if we hadn’t had the Victorians and their fascination with cards, trees and carols, Christmas might … Continue reading The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 20: Hogfather →

A Play Ian Likes: Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas

I acted in a production of this in 1987 for my Year 12 Drama class and, of all the plays I have acted in or read before or since, this one gets reread the most. It was written for radio, hence the subtitle “A Play For Voices” and is probably the best known of that … Continue reading A Play Ian Likes: Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas →