Rob Day stammered severely as a child, but replaced the memories with new experiences. Here, he throws out a challenge to other people who stammer.

Photo by James Gallimore. 'Some sort of public speaking is a must; you will lose your inhibitions and self-consciousness' Rob Day

Would you have believed it? I wouldn't, from a person who had a very bad stammer, to that same person being in a 300-seat theatre performing Shakespeare. There was a little bit of trepidation at the first entrance on stage with a live audience but I soon got into the swing of Midsummer Night's Dream, and being one of the mechanicals suited my type of acting.

The rehearsals had been twice a week and only lasted two to three hours - not enough time in my view. A lot of rehearsal was done at home, in the car and on the train (much to the passengers' annoyance). My method of learning the words is by recording them and listening to them, over and over again. Hopefully it sticks, but some phrases and words are easy to remember, and some are not.

There are sometimes (for speech) bad days and good days, never very bad days. I suppose when I am on stage enjoying the scene, one could say these are very good days, although there is a moment of trepidation.

But as an eight-year-old boy, I could hardly put two words together without forcing the word and making grotesque contortions with my face.

I was a figure of laughter and ridicule, especially at school. My friends and family tried to help, especially by saying the word or words for me. This could be quite funny, as often they got the words wrong.

I could not understand that when I used to talk out loud on my own, I would be perfectly fluent, but as soon as anyone came around or was in the vicinity I would just stammer. The odd thing was that when one swears for some inordinate reason, those words never came with a stammer - funny that.

I have attended many courses, tried different techniques...had even been to the City Lit. I am sure that as we get older our self-consciousness goes. These days, with great care, I am not too bad. I wonder if this sounds familiar - were you similar and can you identify and relate to this?

What does all this have to do with Shakespeare? Nothing really, except that I am trying to give others an idea that joining a drama group could be helpful. It might be difficult at first but once you are underway it is fantastic. If you do not want to do that then some form of public speaking is a must. You WILL LOSE some of your inhibitions and self-consciousness.

Personally, I love putting on different voices with my friends. I'm sure the link between not being 'you' and acting as somebody else bypasses the stammer. I know that some of you like telling jokes or repeating a funny story. Please just do it? you will really enjoy it. This article will hopefully give you ideas and fuel your appetite: go for it.

From the Autumn 2004 edition of Speaking Out