I was an actor for a number of years, did a mixture of professional work, semi-pro, university theatre, comedy performing and writing, and some musicals. Lots of everything. I was unable to stand the strain of always being auditioned -- as a friend of mine said: how come actors are required to have a skin too few, and yet are constantly being rejected? How can you have a thick skin and a thin one simultaneously? I was never able to work that out. Lots of people in the same boat with me.

The interesting thing for me recently is that I was never, ever shy in the theatre. I never dried up once. But now to play the guitar or sing a folk song in company is torture. This kind of performance is virtually impossible for me. I have no idea why -- lack of distance probably. It scares the hell out of me, all the time. I dry up, can't remember my own name, basic chords, anything. Completely strange. I am working through it, but it is totally new in my experience.

yours, Peter T.