5:38pm Friday 22nd January 2010
When I was 12 years old, at an all boys school in Manchester, I played Phyllis, the lead soprano, in Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’.
While you’re struggling to imagine your far from delicate columnist trilling away in rural frock and wig, I will add that my English teacher, with a fine line in waspish humour, wrote the following review in our school magazine: “Colin Baker threw himself with great verve into the part of Phyllis and rarely strayed more than half an octave from the note.” At the time I was proud of the ‘verve’ bit and failed, until years later, to take on board the full implication of the rest. Back then I had no dream of being a professional performer.
Things like that didn’t happen to lads from Rochdale. But when those thoughts emerged later, I recalled my earlier musical exploits and didn’t immediately harbour singing ambitions.
So, to find myself playing Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore for Carl Rosa Opera a few years ago was something I could not have dared dream all those years ago. But there are so many things, unimaginable as a child, that come to pass in life from something as prosaic as ‘driving a car’ that seemed an impossible when I was at school. As a result of my fleeting notoriety in Doctor Who (a quarter of a century ago now!) I have been privileged to have been offered some quite remarkable opportunities, including steering the Isle of Wight ferry, going down a working coal mine, being flown in helicopters, parachuting and meeting any number of wonderful people. So, despite my inglorious first steps into the world of music, I was proud to be invited, several years ago, to be patron of our local excellent amateur orchestra – the Wycombe Sinfonia.
Work commitments have often prevented me from attending their public concerts, but this Sunday at 3.30pm, not only am I able to pop along to John Hampden School to hear them play a children-friendly concert that includes the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and Peter and the Wolf, but I shall be narrating the latter.
It will be a fun afternoon, with children invited to bring their favourite cuddly birds, cats, ducks or dogs (to impersonate the wolf) and join in the fun. Tickets from the Tourist Information Office in the library, by phone from the Swan Theatre or turn up on the door.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/trade_directory/