Sir Michael Caine, CBE

The moment Sir Michael said that he would put his name to the drama awards at the Leatherhead Drama Festival back in 2004, we knew the Festival was going to be a success. We are now approaching our eighth year (the “Eighth Wonderful...”), but Sir Michael can claim his acting successes for many more years than that. After graduating from actor and Assistant Stage Manager at Horsham (not more than a stone’s throw from Leatherhead) and following numerous television dramas and stage productions, he starred in the heroic film “Zulu” which premiered in 1964 with the proclamation “... introducing Michael Caine” on the credits. So, a star is born in 1964 and the star still shines in 2011 - forty seven years later!

Although one major reason for the success of our Festival is the patronage and support of Sir Michael, he has been helping other people for most of his life. Whether it was helping his own family back in his early acting days or more recently, helping young actors to develop their thespian skills with his various training projects such as “Acting in Film” and “Inside The Actor’s Studio” he has never been slow to offer the benefits of his experience. His helpful comments include a quote from Joan Littlewood, who told him; “Rehearsal is the work, performance is the relaxation”. Advice which is surely relevant to all our performers during this Festival.

When addressing the audience at a previous Leatherhead Festival, Sir Michael was discussing amateur dramatics and he quipped; “’Amateur’ , that’s from the word ‘amour’ – love. I was once an amateur, I used to act for love. Now I act for love – and for money!” However, in reply to a recent suggestion that it might be time to retire he said : “I go to work now when I feel like it, not to make a living. But it’s got to be fun. It’s been my life and it’s what I have always wanted to do. I love making movies”. And he still is making movies.

Long after making "The Italian Job" (1969) - which forms the basis for our main Festival Drama Awards - recemtly he completed the very poignant film "Is Anybody There?" (2008) and a much more down to earth thriller "Harry Brown" (2009) in which he returns to his roots in Elephant and Castle, London. This film has been seen in the cinemas and the DVD has also been released. Michael Caine published his second autobiography "The Elephant to Hollywood" in 2010, (his first "What's It All About?" appeared in 1992) and, as I write, he is currently filming "Journey 2 Mysterious Island" (Jules Verne) which should be released later this year followed by another "Batman" feature very soon.

Sir Michael has previously offered his hearty congratulations to the participating groups at the Leatherhead Drama Festival and has shown real pleasure at the very high quality of the plays he saw performed. “Much of what I saw was of high professional standard and I was delighted with the whole event”. We sincerely hope that the performances this year will stand up against such praise...praise from someone who knows. We thank Sir Michael Caine once again for his continued support and his valued patronage for the Leatherhead Drama Festival.