Memories we’d rather forget

8th May: Some scary memories were brought back for me during the show today. They involved green hair dye, rapping and a tense week of waiting.

I am, of course, talking about my acting debut, aged 11.

The memories were triggered in the latest edition of my diary, in which I wrote about auditioning for the school play. I aimed high, going for the lead role of King Rat (it was a version of the Pied Piper of Hamlin, as I recall).

It was a tricky audition apparently. I had to rap, a skill I’m not naturally blessed with. I was going up against my friend, who was a far greater rapper than me. She could do every line of the Hot Stepper without stumbling.

I remember getting the part, along with my friend. I don’t think I was hugely happy about sharing the limelight, but at least it meant I got to share the scary bit where I had to rap.

We sprayed our hair green (everyone knows rats have green punk hair, obviously) and pinned safety pins onto leather jackets. We rocked.

Looking back, I can’t believe I CHOSE to put myself through this.

Not only did I have to don a terrible outfit, on stage, in front of hundreds of people. But I also had to rap. And do an MC Hammer style dance. Cringe.

And I’m not the only one to carry these painful memories around. Some of the stories you shared with us on the show had me crying laughing. But it was Bev’s that really took the biscuit.

Can you believe what she did to her headteacher, in front of hundreds of people?!

Bev singing Baby Face... to her headmaster?!

So go on, tell me about your childhood stage debut….