Have you heard the one about ...? (From Western Telegraph)

Have you heard the one about ...?

Heard the one about a struggling young comedian by the name of Jack Dee? He was desperate for a slot at the London comedy clubs run by a certain Pembrokeshire teacher before the classroom became his stage.

Back then, his act failed to entertain and he was frequently sidelined in favour of other aspiring entertainers including Paul Merton and Jo Brand.

Mr Dee refused to give up, changed his act, caught the attention of the audience at Dave Ainsworths clubs and made a career out of making people laugh.

Dave has much in common with the acts he showcased. He, too, is a master entertainer with a sharp wit and a natural ability to hold an audience.

It comes as no surprise to learn he was a stand-up comedian on the London circuit before his career path changed course.

Dave was born and bred in West Sussex and there is hint of cockney in an accent he inherited from his mother.

He discovered his ability to entertain when he won a leading part in The Crucible by Arthur Miller as a 16-year-old. The stage cured Dave of the shyness that plagued his childhood. He was confident in the limelight and went on to study drama at King Alfred College, London.

After a brief period teaching drama in America he returned to London and became a stand-up comedian.

He doubled up with Nick Smith, brother of Have I Got News For You regular, Arthur Smith, in a partnership they called The Natterjacks. To this day, Arthur Smith remains his favourite stand-up performer.

Dave enjoyed the audience interaction but there were times when a nine-to-five job would have been less stressful.

Some of the audience could be quite abusive, particularly if they had been drinking. They were paying £5 to hear us, quite a lot of money in those days, and they expected to be entertained, he recalled.

He went on to set up two comedy clubs, one on a paddle steamer anchored off the Victoria Embankment.

It earned him a decent living and he promoted comedians who have since become household names. But it was not the kind of job which fitted in comfortably with family life. Soon after he met and married his wife, Sue, they made their home in Pembrokeshire.

My time in London had been fun, but it isnt really the sort of work that ties in well with being a father, he says.

I worked late at night and I went for months without seeing a morning.

Sues parents were living in Pembrokeshire and we thought it would be a wonderful place to bring up children.

Both trained to be teachers. Dave is a member of the staff at Pennar Junior School and Sue at Stackpole VC School - jobs which they both adore.

But Dave never gave up his thirst to entertain. A novel he had published two years ago was to be his passage back to the stage.

Silly Mid Off caught the attention of Peter Doran, director of the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. Peter was equally impressed with a script Dave had written for the stage.

The monologue, appropriately named Oh Hello, is based on the life of Carry On star, Charles Hawtrey. He has not only written the script but will perform it at the Torch Theatre this Sunday.

It is a challenging role, a marked contrast to his stand-up scripts, but if it works he hopes to take it to the Edinburgh Festival next year.

It has been a play I have felt compelled to perform, admits Dave. He views his big night with nerves and excitement in equal measures.

I am not worried about drying; if I dont know my words by now I ought to be shot. I am a bit nervous that people will expect it to be very funny because of my past, when in fact it is quite sad in parts.

Two of his greatest fans will be absent from the audience - his two sons, 12-year-old William and ten-year-old Tom. It is a play aimed at adults and mum and dad decided it might not be appropriate for their young ears.

But Sue will be there and will make a perfect stand-in if he backs out. She knows every word of his script after listening to him rehearsing in their kitchen night after night.

Daves stage appearance will be a significant moment for him, but he remains committed to the school where he runs the after-school drama club. He will also become its English co-ordinator in September.

I love the school, the atmosphere is wonderful, full of laughter. A bit like being on stage really, he says.

Caption: The many faces of Dave Ainsworth, on stage in London in the 1980s.

PICTURE: Western Telegraph.