David Weston (born 28 July 1938) is an English actor, director and author. Since graduating from theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1961[1] (having won its Silver Medal for that year)[2] he has acted in numerous film, television and stage productions, including twenty-sevenShakespeare plays and prominent guest roles in twoDoctor Who serials. WithMichael Croft, he was a founder member of theNational Youth Theatre.[3] Much of his directing work has been for that organisation; he has directed also at theRegent's ParkOpen Air Theatre and a number of other theatres in London. He wrote and narrated a series of non-fiction audio books, includingShakespeare His Life and Work, which won the 2001 Benjamin Franklin Award[4] for best audio non-fiction book.
Weston was born in London and educated atDulwich Prep & Senior before attendingAlleyn's School, during the time thatMichael Croft, founder of theNational Youth Theatre (NYT), worked there.[5] In 1956, Croft directed a school production ofShakespeare'sHenry IV, Part 2 which, when revived as a NYT production at theToynbee Hall Theatre the following year, attracted the attention of the national press. Weston playedFalstaff, a character singled out byThe Times in its praise of the play's comedy.[6]
In August 1960, Weston played Mark Antony in Shakespeare'sJulius Caesar at theQueen's Theatre,Shaftesbury Avenue. Directed by Croft and given inmodern dress, this was only the second appearance by the company of the NYT in London'sWest End.John Shrapnel played Caesar,Neil Stacy Brutus, and Alan Allkins Cassius. The play was judged a "youthful success" by the theatre critic ofThe Times; Weston's performance was said to have successfully caught an opportunist spirit effectually hidden by a rough charm.[7]
The Times was more muted in its praise of theElectra andOedipus Rex ofSophocles in a double bill put on by theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) at its Vanbrugh Theatre inBloomsbury in February 1961. Weston playedCreon inOedipus Rex; his bluff characterisation was described as strongly supportive.[8]
His first television appearance was as Romeo in a production for schools of Shakespeare'sRomeo and Juliet;Jane Asher played Juliet.[9]
Weston later appeared in the serialWarriors' Gate in the 1981 season ofDoctor Who in the pivotal role of the time-sensitive Biroc.[10]
In 2011 Weston publishedCovering McKellen: An Understudy's Tale, a memoir of the year he spent asIan McKellen's understudy in theRoyal Shakespeare Company's tour ofKing Lear directed by SirTrevor Nunn.[11]
In 2014 Weston publishedCovering Shakespeare: An Actor's Saga of Near Misses and Dogged Endurance, a memoir of his experiences performing in productions of Shakespeare's plays.[12]
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