Old gold

Warren Mitchell is lying on an air mattress in rehearsals. He’s 81 and in constant pain, made worse by a recent operation.

Warren Mitchell is lying on an air mattress in rehearsals. He’s 81 and in constant pain, made worse by a recent operation. He looks very tired, very old and I wondered, hauling him up off the floor by his wrists, whether he’d make it through our interview, let alone a ten-week tour. Why on earth isn’t he at home with his feet up instead of rehearsing all day long? Doesn’t his wife object? He says, slowly and with effort, ‘Yes, my wife does object; she says, “You’re not fit enough, you should retire, you’re mad!”’

I didn’t get the impression that the theatre management has got anyone else lined up in case he seizes up on the road. ‘They have been very tolerant with me. They should have sent for Harry Taub ages ago,’ he jokes, referring to another actor who’d be good casting.