Tyron Woolfe: My memories of acting in BBC drama The Count of Solar as a 14 year old

I remember being called to the Head’s office at Burwood Park School for the Deaf.  I was 13 years old and wondered what I had done wrong.

Watch Tyron signing his article below, or scroll down to read it in English!

I reluctantly walked through the numerous corridors, stinking of gloss cream paint, and the recently polished floors.  

The doorbell outside the Head’s office had “Busy” “Wait” and “Enter” buttons outside, you had to press “Call” and wait for one of those responses. It was quite deaf-friendly if you think about it! But when you’re anxiety-ridden at being called to his office, not so much!

The Head opened his door and welcomed me in.  He was smiling which meant he wanted something!  In his office were three people, Tristram Powell (Director) and the other two I can’t really remember.  

I remember them all looking at me positively, smiling as if they had “found” something, which was, me.

The Head then explained to me that they were from a film company and they were going to be making a film about a deaf boy, Joseph, in the 17th century who is abandoned by an aristocrat family in France and later found scrambling in the woods without communication, who then gets taken into an asylum.

It is then realised he is deaf, and he learns to communicate in sign language by the Abbe de l’Epée (acted by David Calder, numerous films) who then uncovers the boy’s true story.

It ends up in courts and he is recognised as the rightful heir to the family and given back his title.  The “baddie” who took him to the woods (Nick Reding, used to act in The Bill) marries Joseph’s sister (Hermione Norris, Cold Feet!) is found innocent and in his final years, fights and eventually takes the title away from Joseph.

Tribute is made to the Abbe de l’Epée largely through the film. Joseph apparently later joins the French army and was killed via his inability to hear the bugle to retreat. I still laugh at this ending note although I shouldn’t really!

I think I had to do an audition in the Head’s office, and I remember them watching me with wide eyes.  They had found me via a social worker who knew my auntie. I don’t believe they ran open auditions. They wanted someone deaf, someone who looked French (ahem!), and someone who could act (ahem x 2?!).  

I had just starred in the school play as the Artful Dodger…. I can still remember how I felt that it was a show led by those who could hear enough to follow the music and how many of my classmates kept moving or dancing two seconds after a visual cue by me or others. For a deaf school, surely more could have done to give greater access for everyone!

I was 13 years old at the time of auditions and rehearsals, 14 by the time of filming. I remember my parents sitting me down at home.  My Mum said to me something along the lines of, “Although we are proud of you to get offered this starring role, we want to remind you to stay grounded on earth, to be who you are and to not show-off and get carried away…” brilliant advice Mum!

I remember having a chaperone who was also a tutor, taking me to the film studios in Ealing, using daily beautiful taxis via the North Circular from Romford for six weeks on the trot.  

I also remember being given an open subsistence allowance, to eat and drink whatever I wanted from the BBC canteen. Even when I had friends or family come join me for the day, I would treat them all from my open allowance.  These were the days when the BBC didn’t really care what it spent money on!

Other mates from Burwood Park School and the Royal School for the Deaf in Margate also joined me for parts of the filming to be my classmates at the Abbe de l’Epée school.  We had lots of laughs and some common rivalry between our schools. Paul Casey was a sharp lad from Margate and I got on well with him. We kind of tried to integrate our classmates but it was hard at times.

I remember Graeme (my school buddy) and I having to act a scene of being merry and having fun with two girls who had acted in Grange Hill.  He was such a happy guy that day! I wonder why!

I had my own dresser. He was pretty camp, he would come to my dressing room every day to apply my 17th century clothes on.  I really liked him, he made me laugh so much.  I think he may have been my first gay adult role model.

Here’s a clip from the film which we found on Vimeo (unsubtitled):

The whole film took six weeks to complete, including two days off-site filming somewhere in Redhill where we did the scenes of me on a white horse – it wasn’t me riding it though, just for a quick portrait and then a stunt man did the riding! Bah!

Acting for a film was such an experience. Totally different to the traditional school play! We often only had one camera so everything was acted 10/12 times for different angles.

Every day I had make-up applied on, and for some scenes really painful wigs glued to my face – I hate the wigs! I was young and sometimes I had to be told to focus more, to act better.

I remember getting very fed up with scenes that had to be done over and over. I loved flirting with crew members and other actors/actresses, I know I enjoyed the attention! I can still remember the Floor Manager shouting “Settle down, settle down” and the Production crew calling out the scene number followed by the Director, “And…action!”. It wasn’t Hollywood by any means, but oh boy!

I do believe that sign language consultants should have been far more involved in the film.  My rapid change from being found in the woods to learning the signs for ‘Bread’, ‘Hat’, ‘Book’ then to signing fluently was a bit unrealistic!

Also given that it was France, I wonder why we didn’t use French Sign Language? (Langue des Signes Française, LSF)?  

 I also think the sign used for ‘Bread’, the most common sign in the film, was actually incorrect as I think that sign came after sliced bread was invented!! I also think I could have done with more formal acting teaching, but this was 1990, a long time ago.

I loved the final wrap day, we had a huge party with cake and foods.  All the boys from both schools were there, the film crew and interpreters too.  I was astonished to be presented with the portrait they had painted of me as part of the film.  I arrived home that evening with the picture and my parents were so pleased as punch! It has always been up in my parents house and looks good! (see below)

The film went through heavy editing and finally the end product was done.  

Everyone we knew and big names were invited to a huge preview screening at the Royal Festival Hall, Waterloo.  

Michael Palin was there, I remember my father with an interpreter and I next to him. My Dad said “This is Michael Palin”. I said “Who??” I really didn’t know him. My father was so embarrassed!

The lights dimmed as so many of us in the audience stopped yapping away and sat down to watch the film.  

My Mother was on my left, my grandmother on my right. Unexpectedly, Mum just burst into tears of pride as the opening titles started and I appeared running through the woods as a starving abandoned boy…

All I can really remember of the preview was being so desperate for the toilet! As the lights went on at the end of the film, I was applauded by members of the audience and unexpectedly invited to the main stage for a question and answer session.  I was busting for a pee! I have never had such a painful interview!

The BBC sold copies of the film to other countries meaning royalties received from places such as Australia, Iceland and New Zealand. I wasn’t a member of Equity so I really did not make much money but the experience was wonderful!  

We were invited to show the film at Gallaudet University and I enjoyed the visit and screening. I still meet American people who remember the screening!

I remember fame being hard at times at that age.  One girl at Mary Hare Grammar school developed a real crush on me, she cut out two photos from the tv guides and put it in a necklace locket! I remember finding it hard to attend deaf events without being asked for autographs or being pointed at.  

I also admit liking some of the fame and the enormous flirtations that came later! I remember schools of the deaf doing class projects on the film and how heated a debate or two were held at some schools about the rights of sign language use as a result of the film.

I think the film was screened in 1991 and has not been repeated in the UK.  

For some reason this year I have received several requests for a copy of the film.  My ex-partner actually filmed the whole film on a digital camera and made a fake DVD copy for me with mega designs on it. He even added a bar code on it! I think he made 3 copies.  

We told my Mother that we had saw it on sale in WHSmiths and she was livid at not having a complimentary copy. She fell for it hook, line and sinker!!

Before anyone else asks and I risk being arrested for piracy (e.g. “Please, please film the entire movie and upload it to your drop box please” (!)) please, if you really would like to see this film either for the first time or as a repeat, follow this link and the step after.

There is a film copy in the BBC archives so there’s no reason why it couldn’t be resurrected in some way:

https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/faqs/forms

(Select send feedback)
“Please repeat the BBC film “The Count of Solar”.

This is because (insert whatever you like!)”

(Press send)

And hopefully the BBC will agree to do it!

And maybe if you want to target social media to this, use the hashtag #repeatCountofSolar for consistency’s sake? (See my last blog!)

Further links about The Count of Solar:

https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7b108af4

http://tristrampowell.com/index.php/drama/64-the-count-of-solar?play3=Countofsolar-clip (No subtitles bah!)

Tyron is in his early 40s and loves a good laugh and cuddle with friends and family. He has worked for over 20 years with deaf young people. In between volunteering and loads of networking, he is keeping an eye out for his next career move since travelling. Follow him on Twitter as @tyronwoolfe