I don’t normally warm up by sitting still on the Olivier stage, trying not to cough. I pace about, flapping my hands. I’ll be incapable of listening to anyone else, a great shame, because the Harold Pinter evening will be full of gems, readings from the whole of his writing, prose, poetry and, of course, the plays.

I first came across Harold when I was 15 at youth club; someone came up with the idea of us doing The Room. I cannot tell you how unlikely this was, in the suburbs of Birmingham. I had no idea what I was doing, but there was this wonderful symmetry when, so much later, in 2000, I was asked to do a double bill of The Room and what was to be Harold’s last play, Celebration.

My experience of being directed by him was that when he was sure about something, you’d know it; he had a thing about noise and fiercely defended his concentration in rehearsal. People did find him formidable, but he could also be extremely gentle and was incredibly loyal.

I think people are often overly reverential about him; when that happens, you lose all the humour. Whenever I’ve been abroad in Harold’s plays people laugh like drains and you think, why can’t they do that in London?

I think Harold would have been thrilled, and pleased to see us, all these actors he has kicked around with over the years. He was a mighty figure, a universal, unique writer; his work won’t ever go away.

Harold Pinter: A Celebration, National Theatre, Olivier, London SE1 (www.nationaltheatre.org.uk 020-7452 3000), Sun

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