An Actor's Life in 12 Productions

by Oliver Ford Davies

The director Peter Dews “You’ll be alright when you’re forty, and even better when you’re fifty.” It turns out that Peter Dews was right, almost to the month.

In a study of British theatre through a varied acting career spanning over sixty years, Oliver Ford Davies explores the many changes within the performing arts scene through his experiences on various stages, in a variety of productions, across the country.

Davies charts the ups and downs of British theatre in the last sixty years, while offering a unique perspective on life behind the curtain and the daring journey from leaving behind an academic career and into acting.

From Shakespeare to Shaw, Chekhov to Pirandello, this is the story of an actor initially struggling to make a mark before making his breakthrough at fifty, winning the Olivier Best Actor award and being propelled into thirty years of leading roles.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2022

Reviews

[Shirley Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have to admit I didn't finish this. I was worn down by the priviledged start at the posh school, the lack of any (early chapters at any rate) self-awareness of how gilded a life this had been. There was something almost unsettling about the boys playing the female roles as though we are back in the 16th Century. I ploughed on a bit but wasn't learning anything from this memoir. It is perhaps of its time and hopefully the tales of actors and actresses from more recent times would feel more relatable.

[Simon Slidders · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought that there was an excessive amount of name dropping, but as it progressed he started to say some really interesting things about both acting and directing, and clearly set out the actor's life in the last half of the twentieth century (very different now with the practical death of rep and so many other changes). I don't think he makes it clear how lucky he was to be so continuously in work in the theatre ove his sixty year career but well worth reading

[Mark Ludmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intelligent and insightful memoir that goes much further than focusing on just 12 productions. Using these dozen performances as a starting point, Oliver Ford Davies covers many of the highlights of his career, offering illuminating insights into acting and theatre over the decades. (But for all its strengths, it would have benefited from a proof-read before publication.)

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK long winded in parts. Felt like it was unevenly paced as the back half seemed to read a lot quicker than the front half. I have read better in this vein that also weren't quite as dry as this but OK.