One of the National's 1963 company, actor James Hayes has appeared in 37 of the theatre's productions and is performing in Liolà during the 50th anniversary celebrations.
I worked on the National's very first season and now I'm ridiculously, childishly, pleased to be working in the 50th season. What happens now is you sign up per play but in those days you signed up for a year and hoped to move up the greasy pole. Because you were one of 50 actors working over a year there was a sense of company. My first salary was £17 a week and we worked so hard but they were really exciting times.
My first play was called The Dance of Death and Laurence Olivier would salute me and talk to me sotto voce as he came off and that was the highlight of my Olivier days. We don't have actors of that kind of status, or who have that power any more. We used to have a little tatty canteen over in Aquinas Street and there were two women, Rose and Lil, who would make these wonderful lunches. Rose was very ebullient, she'd be: "'Allo, darlin', what can I get you?" and Lil was this little creature in the background, barely taking up space. There was a wonderful day when Maggie Smith was queuing for some food and someone said: "Isn't Rose marvellous?" and she said: "Mm, but Lil's the better part." The little character in the background is a better part than the flashy one!
I've worked at many other places but I have a special affection for this place because I've worked here from the start. Now I'm working with the children of actors I worked with years ago.
