Through the long hot summer of 1964 I was assistant director to Giles Havergal in weekly rep at Her Majesty’s theatre, Barrow-in-Furness.
Its main entrance was the width of a normal doorway. The sound equipment was a Dansette tape recorder and the lighting a yard-long batch of six dimmers that periodically emitted flashes and conked out altogether.
Several actors suffered breakdowns from having to learn large roles in a week, and my first solo production started with a wet stage from a last-minute repaint of the entire set.
Giles remained calm and dignified, eventually resigning and going on to great success, first at Watford and then displaying his miraculous management of finance, popularity and art at the Citizens, Glasgow.
He was a witty and charming friend.
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