Mary Chater

How would you like to be described?

As a warm, caring and energetic person who loves her husband, family, music, Italy and Shakespeare amongst many other things!

How would you describe what you do?

I'm an actor and co founder of Shakespeare in Italy - we make productions and run theatre based projects with disadvantaged members of the community in the UK.

What is your greatest achievement?

It depends which day you ask me but today it's to have persuaded my husband to move to and live in Italy with me for nearly 10 years.

What was the cause or ’trigger for this journey of making the world a better place through being useful and kind? And how old were you? When did you realise you could make a difference?

In my 40's my acting career was going flat and we decided to move to Italy - my husband was 69, had a great career but was bored as an actor. We started the theatre company, he wrote 2 books and and I taught English in Italian schools and at Urbino university using theatre which was a wonderful experience. I think I made a difference because we had a lot of fun during lessons, singing, playing games and laughing as we used the language creatively.

Was it something your parents are/would have been proud of and encouraged?

Yes, anything to do with their children having an adventure and being happy they encouraged.

Who or what were your early influences?

All types of music, being around my mother, domestic pets, learning the piano and playing duets with
my granny, dancing, gardening with my father, theatre trips, family camping holidays and attending church services and concomitant social events because my father was a vicar.

What were you doing at 16?

Taking drugs, getting pregnant twice in one year and going to Millfield school on a music scholarship.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

Get some contraceptives.

What advice would you give to other young people?

Listen to people when they want to help you in any situation, whatever it is.

What has been the most difficult challenge on the way and how did you overcome it?

Realising I couldn't carry on as an actor in the UK in my 40's but finding a thrilling alternative by moving to a different country and culture.

What do you think are the changes we need to see in the world and how can being U&K help solve those things?

I think people have found a release and change by talking to others especially neighbours during Coronavirus - talking is useful in so many ways and being Useful and Kind can help solve problems - listening is an art but many are finding they like listening as well as talking. The English aren't particularly demonstrative but this world crisis has it seems made people (even the English ) more open and receptive to sharing thoughts and feelings with others, I hope.

How are you useful and kind to yourself - what helps and hinders?

When I take time to go for a long walk on the Downs at the moment because my husband is seriously ill. My propensity to be over-emotional often gets in the way of clear thinking.

How are you both useful and kind to others (the easy ones and those who are more difficult to be U&K to)?

When working with others, I try to be as enthusiastic about, and encourage creativity with, former prisoners in Woking, over 50's doing Shakespeare, our summer school participants in Italy or rehearsing a play when I'm working as an actor.

What is your biggest challenge in the future?

I'm not sure yet.

What do you wish you had done differently?

Not taken as many drugs or consumed as much alcohol when I was young.

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