Stage by Stage: A Life in Showbusiness

From an early age, Derek Grant always wanted to entertain. His puppet shows for the family on the kitchen table led, stage by stage, to producing some of the top UK provincial theatre tours of the early 21st Century. Now, to coincide with his 70th birthday, this fascinating book takes you on his journey from the village halls of Dorset to London's glittering West End and beyond.Re-live the last seven decades as Derek sets his story in context with the events of each year. It's all here from the introduction of decimal coinage to the compulsory wearing of seatbelts, miners' strikes, interest rates at 17%, famous births and deaths, and the invention of the world-wide-web. The text is also spiced with favourite stories and gags of the great comedians of the past. Ken Dodd, Frankie Howerd, Les Dawson, and Ronnie Corbett - even George Burns and Bob Hope.Here are the many stages of Derek's life. Whether it was studying theology at St Paul's College, working as a teacher, running a successful mail order business, producing professional pantomimes, or interviewing celebrities on stage, this is compelling reading - stage by stage!