There were ructions in the wings when aged 11 I played the part of the clown, Launcelot Gobbo in Shakespeare's

The lead was played by Dermot Walsh who was a winger on our first 15 U/18s and who later on became one of the finest Shakespearian actors in Britain.

The part of Gobbo needed a tiny whippersnapper and I was just the goods. The only way I had of upstaging Dermot and grabbing the attention was each time I crossed the stage I threw a somersault.

After the play was over I owed Shakespeare the gratitude of introducing me to word music. It was in fact a symphony in words.

It is the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Shakespeare's birth this year so one is justified in pulling out all the plugs.

Here is Lorenzo's tribute, considered by many, the finest example of word music in the English speaking language.