The kindness of strangers got me to the theatre on time - John Tracey, Member Overseas

Having seen now 1650 theatrical productions in Britain and Ireland in 34 consecutive years (I live in Canada) I have to say that one of my most memorable RSC moments was as follows.

On Dec. 27, 2017 I was travelling to Stratford-upon-Avon by train from London to see four RSC productions in two days. The first two being the Imperium plays (Part I and II) on Dec. 27. England had received an inch of snow that day (we sneeze more than that amount in Canada in our winter days) but it was enough to slow down train speeds all over England.

As such I missed my connection to Stratford some where around Leamington Spa. Checking for the next train would put me into Stratford after the start of the matinee of Part I of the Imperium plays. I checked for taxis: none to be found. No buses as well. Five years ago, I did not own a mobile phone.

Determined not to miss that matinee I walked out to the rail station's car park and was prepared to knock on any and all car windows with people in them offering to pay anyone to drive me to Stratford. It actually only took the first car for the occupants to say yes.

I crammed myself and my small bag into their back seat and had a wonderful conversation with the couple on the way. He had visited Canada in the past and had seen polar bears in the north. She worked for the BBC and was interested in my years of theatre stories.

Having dropped me off on the High Street in Stratford they refused to take any money, even for petrol and I thanked them over and over. I sprinted to my regular B&B, threw my bag in telling the owner that "I would be back later" and then ran to the RSC box office to collect my play tickets for the 4 plays in two days.

I then rushed to my front row stalls seat with I believe around 15 minutes to spare before the play started.

I will never be able to thank that couple enough as although Part I of the Imperium plays was not necessarily a must view for Part II, I was so happy that I was able to see both in their entirety in the same day. (to say nothing of seeing Twelfth Night and A Christmas Carol the next day).

Of course, all four plays were brilliant and kudos to Richard McCabe who performed in both Imperium plays that day nursing a very bad case of the flu.

Coincidentally I have a similar story of a couple offering me a drive just last month (Feb. 2022) the day after storm Eunice cancelled hundreds of train journeys throughout Britain. People have, can and continue to be so generous and wonderful in Britain and Ireland ALWAYS. Thank you to everyone.

And people continue to ask me why I travel to Britain and Ireland for theatre when Broadway is so much closer. Read the above story: enough said.