Everyman 40th Birthday Gala Everyman, Liverpool
When I was a child, I was fortunate to grow up in an extended family of actors and musicians, gifted storytellers, natural comedians. Each family gathering was a memorable event. Telly was a dirty word; everyone did a turn and no one hogged the spotlight.
For me, the Everyman's 40th birthday party felt very much like a typical family do in Liverpool. A time for nostalgia, certainly, a celebration of the past and tradition, with glasses raised to absent friends. But, like any good, responsible and nurturing family, there was one eye fixed firmly on the future, the clan keenly anticipating what the next 'turn' is going to be.
Alan Bleasdale welcomed us in, Adrian Mitchell escorted us out. In between, family members flitted in and out and did their party pieces, among them, Jonathan Pryce, Julie Walters, Pete Postlethwaite, Matthew Kelly, Mark McGann, Ian McCulloch, Pete Wylie, Willy Russell, George Costigan, Antony Sher. Having entertained the gathering, they then sat with the crowd, enjoying and applauding what followed. It would be unfair to single people out for particular praise. They were all memorable and no one hogged the spotlight. It's not that sort of family.
Many of our relations have long since flown the nest, pursuing careers elsewhere, establishing reputations, enjoying the fruits of their labours. But the kinship remains. It was a long journey home for a lot of people, but they made it.
· Tony Green is a playwright whose Kindness of Strangers opened recently at the Everyman
