My father said to me once that ‘moral fibre’ was a much under rated quality. In my idiocy (and arrogance) I ignored the remark, thinking he was repeating some dusty adage from the days of Empire. (He owned a company whose motto was, “Today the World, Tomorrow the Empire”) During this last dark period in our lives ‘moral fibre’ seems to be a subject worth looking at again.  The definition of ‘moral fibre’ is, ‘having the inner strength to do what one knows is right’. And in all honesty, where ever you look, in the world of pub theatres, everyone involved has this quality in spades.

Take Neil McPherson-and his team- at the Finborough theatre. Last year the theatre should have been joyously celebrating its 40th anniversary. Michael Billington has said, ‘we expect the very best from the Finborough. And over the years it has delivered.’ The awards it has won go on and on. (far too many to list here.) Although I must mention it won the very prestigious LPT Pub Theatre of the year award 2020!

It has encouraged playwrights from Laura Wade, Mike Bartlett, Jack Thorne etc. The director’s works they have promoted include Tamara Harvey, Blanche McIntyre, and Robert Hastie. The list of great actors who have worked there is endless. And I’m sorry to be boring, but I need to say it, this was done without a penny of external funding.

Take Neil McPherson-and his team- at the Finborough theatre. Last year the theatre should have been joyously celebrating its 40th anniversary. Michael Billington has said, ‘we expect the very best from the Finborough. And over the years it has delivered.’ The awards it has won go on and on. (far too many to list here.) Although I must mention it won the very prestigious LPT Pub Theatre of the year award 2020!

It has encouraged playwrights from Laura Wade, Mike Bartlett, Jack Thorne etc. The director’s works they have promoted include Tamara Harvey, Blanche McIntyre, and Robert Hastie. The list of great actors who have worked there is endless. And I’m sorry to be boring, but I need to say it, this was done without a penny of external funding.

When the Finborough went ‘dark’ you wouldn’t have blamed the ‘team’ for looking in on itself. But......and it is a huge ‘but’.... they did exactly the opposite. Many productions were put on line. All sorts of playwriting awards were encouraged. There were weekly forums held on Zoom. The history of the theatre was put out onto the cloud.  And, to say it again, this was done without a penny of external funding.

Your correspondent had a much easier life. As a ‘jobbing actor’ I was able to take any work out there. And I found myself much in demand for ‘audio’ jobs. (Blowing my own trumpet, do have a listen to that wonderful historical saga.) www.facebook.com/kingmakeraudio