After the interesting proposition made by Sarah Longfield to become the latest ‘Toonspeak Patron’, I was obviously very excited at the prospect … However, I must add, slightly daunted and nervous.  My memories of my days at Toonspeak stretch back fifteen years and they are some of my warmest and most poignant.  They also involve some people who remain my dearest friends to this day.  Most of my technical learning as an actor was absorbed during my days at Toonspeak before I headed to London on a scholarship to ‘The Sylvia Young Theatre School’.  In fact my audition speech for theatre school was a monologue from ‘Sproggs’, my first ever play with Toonspeak, written by the artistic director from the eighties and nineties, Stephen King (no relation!). 

So my worries upon becoming reacquainted with Toonspeak were threefold:  would it still be producing high quality performances like it did back when, would the infrastructure of the company resemble in any way the theatre company I joined age eleven, but most of all … would the young people involved look like they’re having as much fun as I did!?

Needless to say, upon arriving at the Kelvingrove Museum for the last night of ‘Sir Rodger (after tiling my bathroom floor all day – oh the glamour!), any reservations I might have had were blown out of the water!  Not only was the show itself hilarious and captivating, the performances were vivid, strong and confident.  However most of all, the young performers looked to me as though they were having the time of their life!  Despite the fact that Toonspeak has indeed gone through a series of changes in many ways through the years, I was glad to see the essential ingredients or traditions were still very much alive and kicking! It was a smashing night at the theatre and a nostalgic one for myself!  I really wish to send my congratulations and thanks to all of those involved.

 I saw the play with my friend Mick whom I met through Toonspeak.  Myself, Mick and Brian (also a Toonspeaker), remain a trio of buddies who meet up usually once a week at least.  Last year Mick played guitar and sang his heart out as guests were being ushered in by Brian to my wedding, and only last week we spent an evening reminiscing – through tears of laughter – about our time at Toonspeak.  Mick is a talented singer/songwriter performing gigs in the evenings and working for the council during the day.  Brian just graduated with Honours from Glasgow University and is currently at teacher training college.  At the moment I’m recording a ten-part radio play for BBC Radio Scotland.  We’re three very different people, with three very different lives.  Yet with a strong supportive friendship cemented through workshops, performances and memories of Toonspeak.

So whatever direction you take after your days at Toonspeak, no matter what career option you decide to follow.  I hope that at the very least you walk away with a handful of treasured memories and one or two equally treasured ‘pals’.  That in itself will be no mean feat. 

Best wishes,  Iain