Actor Ron Moody has enthralled generations with his masterly performance as Fagin in both the stage and film versions of Oliver! – one of the great classics of British theatre and cinema. Now, in this highly original, idiosyncratic and often very funny memoir, he looks back on those early days, describing in fascinating detail the twists and turns of his career, the people he met and worked with, and the many, varied roles that led up to Oliver! With characteristic frankness, he reveals the conflicts and clashes that can occur, both on and off stage, even in the most successful of shows. For this self-taught thespian every show has come with new lessons, and Moody weaves together these experiences to form his own theories on what ultimately makes a successful performance. Set on an academic career, Ron first took to the boards when a student at the London School of Economics – writing and acting in student revues. But such a comedic talent and the innate ability to create a string of eccentric and original characters quickly caught the attention of West End theatre producers, and the course of his life was changed forever.
