Michael Troughton
Actor: Biography
I didn't always want to be an actor. When I was 11, I wanted to be a mad scientist. I had converted my bedroom into a science laboratory complete with a bench, chemistry set, electronic experiments and microscope. My walls were covered with maps of the Moon, planets and the night sky. I remember, the seventies being an exciting time with the Apollo moon landings, the beginnings of computers and VCRs. To this day I still kindle a love of science and am currently completing a degree in astrophysics with the University of Lancashire.
I was educated in a private school in Harrow with the help of my Dad's earnings from Dr Who. The school's motto was 'We conquer by enthusiasm' which suited me down to the ground. Unfortunately, drama was not high on their list of extra curriculum activities. The only outlet for my hidden urge to perform was fulfilled every Christmas at the carol concert in Northolt church. I was a member of the choir and a regular reader for these occasions.
By the time I got to my sixth form college and had got involved in the drama productions there, science began to take second place and became more of a hobby. My mind was almost made up - acting felt natural and I would follow my Dad and brother into the business.
Over the summer holidays in 1971 I managed to get a job at the London Palladium as temporary back stage crew member. Tommy Cooper was top of the bill with Anita Harris and Clive Dunn. Those few weeks spent in what I think is the most wonderful of all the London theatres, filled me with a craving to step on stage and into those lights and become an actor.
Having completed my A levels at the age of 19, I joined the Arts Theatre in London that at the time housed the Unicorn Children's Theatre. I was employed as an acting ASM - assistant stage manager. My weekly earnings amounted to £21 a week and subsidized meals in the theatre cafe. Productions were purely for a children's audience and believe me, they would let you know if they thought you weren’t any good.
I spent two years watching, learning and playing small roles. At the same time I was working backstage in the fly gallery, on props, sound, lights or as DSM in the prompt corner. I had decided right from the start not to go to drama school after a chat with my Dad. He certainly felt it would do me more harm than good and suffocate the natural talent he told me I had. So this became my two year training under the artistic director Matylock Gibbs who encouraged me to learn the Stanislavsky method of acting.
In my final year, I was given a lead role of 'Porky Gammon' in a play called 'The Dragon's Grandmother'. The voice and character I used during these performances would later help to develop the character Piers Fletcher Dervish in the sitcom 'The New Statesman.
In September 1974 I answered an advertisement in the local paper for an acting ASM at Watford Palace Theatre. I was successful and spent two further years continuing my training under the artistic director Stephen Hollis. It was a repertory theatre that produced productions every three weeks. Productions included, 'Tonight at Eight Thirty' by Noel Coward, 'Hello Hollywood, Hello' and 'Happy as a Sandbag' which transfered to the West End. I was also able to play small parts and contribute to the local T.I.E. (Theatre in Education) group who used the theatre during the day.
It was during a Noel Coward production at Watford in 1976 that my future agent Todd Joseph saw me and liked my performance so much he signed me up that evening. I was astonished at the time. The part had only been a small one with very little dialogue but he must have seen something worth backing! This was a real turning point in my career. I had always loved TV studios and film sets and preferred the process of acting in front of a camera rather than an audience. Now I could pursue that dream.
The first ever televison production I did was an adaption of Charles Dicken's David Copperfield for the BBC in 1974 in which I played Mick Walker a boy at the bottle factory. I can't remember if I had lines but I do remeber being pretty nervous. Bit like a rabbit in the headlights of a car. My brother who had begun acting 5 years in advance of me, played the part of Ham in the same series. It was directed by Joan Craft, a lady who I would work with a lot in the future.
The first job my new agent got me was very exciting because I had followed the series and watched prettywell every episode.
The Expert was a BBC drama about Professor John Hardy (Marius Goring)who was a forensic scientist that worked not only for the police but also for other interested parties. I played a rather over enthusiastic student called Myers that Marius Goring
was teaching. This was the first time I met Jeremy Sinden who was a regular in the series. We would become very good working collegues and coinsidently appear in a large number of television drama together. Also in the regular cast was Annie Morrish who in later years could have become my step mother. But that is another story to tell later.
Fathers and Families (1977) was my first large role on TV and was an anthology of plays about families under strain, the linking factor being Dinsdale Landen who appeared as a solicitor in each of the six plays.
My role was the son of T.P.McKenna with Jane Wymark as my sister and Jane Hylton as my mother. I remember the director Christopher Morahan being extremley frightening, loud and very controlling. In fact I had to stand up to him in rehearsals one day after he began a rant at me.
My mum and dad had always taught me to stand up to bullies and in this case it worked a treat. He was sweetness and light after that insident. I couldn't do anything wrong! Unfortunatelty his need to control came out on the studio recording day and another actor copped his roth.
Strange fact - my daughters partner's aunty is Anna Carteret who was married to Christopher Morahan. He sadley died in 2017 having directed many BBC and ITV productions the best of which was The Jewel in the Crown. It's a small world. Who would beleive that 50 years on I would have that connection.