Theatre 1977 - 1988

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1977: Having survived both a Birmingham grammar school and the University of Liverpool, Lesser decides that simply singing 'An actor's life for me' in the shower is no longer a sufficient manifestation of his thespian talents. Leaving RADA with the Bancroft Gold Medal, our intrepid and tiny little twenty-five year old hero first appears with the RSC as Richard of Gloucester in Henry VI.

1, 5,6,7,8: Christiane Archives

2: PJ, from Shaughnessy, Robert. Representing Shakespeare: England, History and the RSC, 1994.

3: PJ, from Steinburg, Michelle. Flashback: a pictorial history 1879-1979 - one hundred years of Stratford-upon-Avon and the Royal Shakespeare Company. 1985.

4: PJ, from the Plantagenets poster, Plays and Players, October 1988: 11.

9: Alison Archives

As Alan in the 1978 Dance of Death, under the impressed gaze of rather delicious but sadly unidentified actress in ill-fitting frock. (Courtesy of Christiane).

As Romeo in the 1980-81 Romeo and Juliet, RSC. On the right with the Nurse (Brenda Bruce). Many thanks to Sina for these winners ... And now we can add the collectively-owned Slide Collection! [colour shots from the RSC/Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Romeo and Juliet collection]

The 1982 Hamlet on the left, PJ from Mary Maher, Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies, University of Iowa Press, 1992: 120. On the right, from the Christiane Archives.

Amy (Kate Lock) and Harry (our hero) in Kissing God, turned up by PJ in Plays and Players, February 1985: 32.

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Kids, don't try this at home. Cutting the rug, Crimean-style, in the 1985 Troilus and Cressida; Juliet Stevenson (Cressida) wonders how he got that lipstick on his collar; and finally cutting the rug, round 2.

1, 3, 5: PJ, from Plays and Players, October 1985.

2: Linda Green's wonderful Juliet Stevenson Website

4: PJ, from Parsons, Keith and Pamela Mason. eds. Shakespeare in Performance, 1995.

6, 7: From Jeniya's dauntless scanner - beautiful!
8. From the Ellie Archives.

Even Prince Valiant had bad hair days ... Looking sallow and interesting (and a trifle liverish) as Carlos Montezuma in the 1986 Melons. Thank you, the indefatigable Anita!

Bill Howell in Principia Scriptorae, The Pit, 1986. On the left, found by PJ in Plays and Players December 1986: 24. On the right, sent by Anita.

... and throw away the key ... Feste in Twelfth Night, Riverside Studios, 1988. No 1 - a rather uncomfortable rehearsal shot from the Alison Archives. Il faut souffrir ... No 2 - PJ, from Plays and Players, February 1988: 27. No 3 is from Parsons, Keith and Pamela Mason. eds. Shakespeare in Performance, 1995. And finally, lucky old Alison went to the press night and cornered our hero - suitably trembling, one hopes (him, not her) - for an autograph.

Proceed to the Theatre Gallery 1989 - 1992