Tom Vanson @tomvanson

1975, I’m 9 years old, running through the playground at Gateway School on the Lisson Grove. It’s not my school, we’re there alone on some fun day for kids. I'm running as fast as I can, gripping the handle of the wooden toy pram in which my sister is sitting, laughing. I feel my legs taken from under me. I come down hard, still gripping onto the pram. All my knuckles bar the thumbs and little fingers tear down to the bone as they smash and scrape along the brutal concrete. My knees are next. The pain is indescribable. I can't believe he tripped me up. We're not on the estate, where we live, but he still calls me Paki and laughs. I'm bawling my eyes out, and eventually someone comes and tries to sort it out. Can't be done. The iodine makes me scream. I can't believe the pain. They call my mum. She comes over. She's utterly horrified and can't believe what's happened to me. We go home. I can barely walk. I can't use my hands. The agony is relentless. It will be months before the skin grows back under the slow-forming scars. I still have them at 58. She leaves us at home, then walks over to the neighbour's place, alone, and starts to shout at the mum. "Come and look at what your son did to mine! Come and look! Do you think it is fair?" Eventually, they come. I'm sheepish. I don't want to face this monstrous fucker who has made our lives hell (along with the others) in the year and a half we've been there. The one who knocks on our door and brazenly says to my mum "You're blocking the drains. You all smell of curry". That's it, that's the purpose of his visit. He gets away with it, but not this time. My mum is livid and when his mum sees the state of me, she tells him to say sorry. Then, and this is insane when I think about it, somehow, the mums make us play together once my hands can hold a ball. He's not racist when we play the one time. He's on parole. Then a few weeks later, back to "Paki" and "Curry" and we are bullied by the whole estate for years. I'm beaten up. My sister is beaten up. My brother is beaten up. Our door is smashed. The mobs are outside screaming, breaking windows. A copper comes over during a particularly terrifying episode when we all think we're going to die and says "You're going to have to grin and bear it." Don't you dare tell me about your fucking legitimate concerns. I took nothing from you. I tried to make peace with you. I forgave my abusers. No more. Today I know the generosity of the vast majority of my country, and I know I'm not alone. You're not backtracking out of this one, not this time. You don't get to call me Paki anymore. We are not going to grin and bear it. This time, the copper is coming over and is putting you behind bars and you are going down. Maybe when you come out, you'll be reformed. Maybe you'll be bitter. That's fine. I don't care either way. I'll be living my best life while you think about what you've done. And I'll be doing it with the vast majority of my country, who don't like fash any more than I do. I refuse to be terrorised. I refuse to be afraid. I refuse to lose hope. One day, before it's too late, I hope you realise what it means to make someone feel like they're not welcome in their own home, that they should burn and die. And I hope you feel ashamed. And I hope you feel remorse. And if you do, let's have a cup of tea and let bygones be bygones and get our country back on its feet. Deal?

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The Stage @TheStage

2 years ago

ICYMI: A new digital theatre "intervention" will put Shakespeare’s text in conversation with the last 14 years of UK government in the run up to the general election (@CITheatre) 👇 thestage.co.uk/news/productio…

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

SHAKES AGAINST THE MACHINE - a new digital protest theatre piece dir. by @robmyles w/ @CITheatre pitting Shakespeare’s text in direct conversation with the last 14 years of UK govt. Follow #ShakesAgainst for a new video every day until Jul 3rd. Image by Ellen Schaffert

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@The_Globe “Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little…”

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Jason @NickMotown

2 years ago

I had to get three trains to the hospital to get my chemo. Which I had to pay for. Six months of more misery than a Morrissey stag do. And I worked every night at the chateau (don't ask). I hope she has a full and speedy recovery, but "lesser mortals" is despicable horseshit.

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@NTLive 10. X

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@HanLavery That cover’s gorgeous!

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Robert Myles @robmyles

2 years ago

LONDON: JUNE 24-28, Shakespeare intensive workshop for professional actors, focused on deepening your understanding of text-work, to deliver transformative performances with confidence. £250. eventbrite.com/e/owning-shake…

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@samgarioch @BBCScotland @BBCOne @LAProductionsUK @SimonePereiraHi @Annanoswad Lookin’ brilliant Sammo! Can’t wait to see it! X

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@MarkRavenhill2 Signed up yesterday & caught up this morning! Really appreciate being given some sort of structure to follow - it’s easy to feel rudderless sometimes so getting a nudge in a given direction is really supportive. Thank you.=)

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@samgarioch @BAFTA @audibleuk OMG Sam you legend. Cannot WAIT to hear this…! X

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@CharlotteMelen Have a fantabulous time, Charlotte - you all deserve it! X

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@HanLavery I’m so, SO sorry, Hannah. What a lovely, lovely boy. Xx

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

@Jcheunginhin Cowardly, contemptible little creature. You, on the other hand, continue to be amazing. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. X

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Tom Vanson @tomvanson

2 years ago

New @_almosttangible material?! YES PLEASE!

Almost Tangible @_almosttangible

2 years ago

We are thrilled to introduce: the AT Classics Collection! This will be an expanding series; elevated readings of classic literary works, finessed with elements of AT's immersive audio magic, yet pared down to celebrate the simplicity and splendour of the written word.