112 DEVON LIFE November 2014 devonlife.co.uk WAYNE SLEEP The wonder of TOPThe10 Wayne’s ISSUE world He started off from humble beginnings in Plymouth and ended up dining with Royalty. On a lightning return to the city of his birth Wayne Sleep opens up to ALEXIS BOWATER on his amazing life story PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT AUSTIN ayne Sleep grasps our him on the shoulder and announced: “I am photographer just your mother’s half-sister”. below Smeaton’s “It’s possible that I have relatives in WTower, delightedly Plymouth that I know nothing about,” he shouts “You have tells me over a glass of Prosecco in the perfect turnout!” and proceeds to teach nearby hotel we have retired to after the him ballet on Plymouth Hoe. It’s a five foot photoshoot. It was in this city that his two versus six foot three pas de deux of talent was first nurtured. Determined to unusual proportions but as the finest ballet give her child the creative advantages she dancer ever produced by this city instructs hadn’t had, his mother enrolled him in the “plie” we all go weak at the knees. local ballet school. He’s astonishingly lively company, bursting with anecdotes and energy. I ask ‘I didn’t want to be a ballet him if anyone has ever beaten his world dancer: a boy, being a record of entrechat-douze – a jump with twelve beats of the feet - and he twinkles, dancer, in 1952? I don’t dramatically pauses, looks for a moment as think so!’ if he is going to demonstrate and then says, proudly and emphatically “NO.” “Pat Rowse and Geraldine Lamb’s Wayne Sleep was born in the city not Dancing School in Plymouth,” he recalls. “I long after the Second World War to a wanted to be Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. I musical mum who he remembers singing didn’t want to be a ballet dancer: a boy, around the house as he grew up. being a dancer, in 1952? I don’t think so! But “She could hit a top ‘C’ with no trouble,” the only thing you could go to in those days he says, “but her talent went by the was dance. I waited two months for tap wayside.” shoes from London and when they did Not surprising really, as she was raising arrive they were girl’s!” Wayne on her own after his father turned Despite the prejudice and setbacks, with out to have been married to someone else. the discipline and determination that “He cajoled her and when she found out he defines a true dancer, the young Wayne did not want to know,” says Sleep, Sleep made it against the odds from the matter-of-factly. provinces to a scholarship at The Royal The convoluted and complicated family Ballet. set-up of the Sleeps meant that there have There, at only 5 foot 2 inches, he was the been some unusual and unexpected shortest male dancer ever admitted to the reunions over the years. Notably in the school. But that didn’t deter acclaimed Temple of Diana at Ephesus in Greece not choreographers of the time who began so long ago where a strange woman tapped creating parts just for him. devonlife.co.uk DEVON LIFE November 2014 113 WAYNE SLEEP Ten things Wayne loves about Devon 1. The train journey taken by the Dawlish coastline on the way to Plymouth. 2. Lunch on the Barbican. 3. Ivor Dewdney’s Pasties. 4. Devonshire clotted cream. 5. Dartmoor and wild ponies. 6. Plymouth Hoe. 7. The new performing arts theatre at Plymouth University. 8. Exeter Cathedral and clock. 9. My sister and brother- in-law because they live there! 10. Burgh Island. Wayne Sleep: ‘I had to diversify, but in the end that has stood me in such good ground’ “I was fast, fluid and lines: I was a the capital. “Before my recent appearance Ten things you perfect Macmillan dancer,” he recalls. “The on Celebrity Master Chef, the last time I don’t know about girls were taller than me in their points, it cooked was trout and almonds for Lady Wayne was depressing actually, I was better than Diana and she ate it all up AND she did the 1. He has two entries in the the people getting the roles,” he holds onto washing up,” he reveals. Guinness Book of Records. the table and takes a dramatic deep breath. He’s still a powerhouse of an athlete. “I had to diversify, but in the end that That flamboyant gesticulation is part of his 2. He put away £88,000 for has stood me in such good ground.” vocabulary is almost a given but at one the Wayne Sleep Foundation by going away into the jungle His talent, combined with tenacity and point he jumps up and pulls off a quick on I’m A Celebrity. staying power brought him the support of two-and-a-quarter turn pirouette on a icons of the ballet world, including the carpeted floor with no warm-up or 3. He played Puck in the founder of the Royal Ballet Dame Ninette preparation. It’s impressive. ballet of A Midsummer De Valois, who became his mentor. There’s more to him than dance too. Night’s Dream, the opera and “She said to me: ‘You will just have to Previous excursions into acting and singing the play. 4. He is the smallest boy ever to get into the Royal Ballet. cIt’s possible that I have relatives in 5. He lives in a house previously owned by Nancy Plymouth that I know nothing aboutd Mitford. 6. He was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet spin twice as fast as everybody else and may be resurrected in the future. His the Queen as a Pioneer of jump twice as high’, and I didn’t like to speaking voice is beautiful and at one point Britain. disobey, did I?! She stopped me taking a pill he gives a quick blast of a few bars from La to make myself taller - you could get hold Boheme’s drinking song. 7. He was voted of anything in those days.” I wonder where we’ll see him next. He’s a showbusinesses personality of the year by the Royal It was his charm and theatricality that born entertainer, not just a dancer. And Variety Club of Great Britain. brought him to the attention of Lady Diana what a life. He was visiting Plymouth to who first befriended him, then persuaded receive an honorary Doctorate from the 8. He toured the world with his him to dance with her on stage to Billy University: a world famous celebrity back own show DASH. Joel’s Uptown Girl in front of Prince in the streets where his astonishing talent 9. He was a guest on the Charles. was first recognised. Morecombe and Wise Show. “She had a sense of humour and she If his story sounds all a bit Billy Elliot 10. He originally wanted to be twinkled and we laughed like we are now,” then don’t forget this is the man who is a graphic designer. he reminisces. referenced numerous times in the stage “Did Charles approve?” I ask. Wayne play. I ask him about that famous line. How raises his eyebrows archly: “No comment,” does it feel when you dance Wayne? I ask. he replies. Does it feel like electricity? He shakes his The friendship between the dancer and head, laughs, grasps both of my hands, the Princess blossomed and she would pop looks into my eyes and joyfully confides: in to his flat during incognito jaunts around “It feels like electricity…with a buzzer!!” I 114 DEVON LIFE November 2014 devonlife.co.uk.