--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young, I first went into the…" description: "\"When I was young, I first went into the theatre which opened up across from my house. My mum and dad put me in there, not to become an actor or anythin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/martin-kemp-6448_bad_when-i-was-young-i-first-went-into-the-t_332965.jpg" --- # When I was young, I first went into the theatre which… ![“When I was young, I first went into the theatre which opened up across from my house. My mum and dad put me in there, not to become an actor or anything but to get rid of my shyness, which was so bad, to the point it was painful. My time there was all about encouragement and improvisation.” quote by Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/martin-kemp-6448_bad_when-i-was-young-i-first-went-into-the-t_332965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/martin-kemp-6448_bad_when-i-was-young-i-first-went-into-the-t_332965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/martin-kemp-6448_bad_when-i-was-young-i-first-went-into-the-t_332965.jpg) > “When I was young, I first went into the theatre which opened up across from my house. My mum and dad put me in there, not to become an actor or anything but to get rid of my shyness, which was so bad, to the point it was painful. My time there was all about encouragement and improvisation.” [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to theater helped the speaker overcome severe shyness through supportive, improvisational activities. **In simple terms:** Theater reduced the speaker's shyness. Key Takeaway Use creative arts to build confidence. Themes confidence creativity personal growth Mood reflective optimistic Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - school drama clubs - community theater - public speaking workshops Key Concepts improvisation social anxiety supportive environments Questions to Reflect On - How can improvisation be structured to support shy individuals? - What other activities foster similar confidence? A Different Perspective Improvisation alone may not address deeper psychological issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Mum and dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum-and-dad/) [Shyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shyness/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The first time my mum and dad went to the theatre was at my drama school in third year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/the-first-time-my-mum-and-dad-went-to-the-theatre-was-at-my-drama/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [My mum and dad were together 55 years, I don't think they spent a day apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/my-mum-and-dad-were-together-55-years-i-don-t-think-they-spent-a-day/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [The best thing my mum and dad ever did for me was keeping me at home and giving me time to find my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/the-best-thing-my-mum-and-dad-ever-did-for-me-was-keeping-me-at-home/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [If you're lucky enough to come from, I was very lucky when I grew up, I grew up in a house fill of love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/if-you-re-lucky-enough-to-come-from-i-was-very-lucky-when-i-grew-up-i/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I remember watching Cilla Black with my mum and dad - I must have been about six years old - and getting off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-remember-watching-cilla-black-with-my-mum-and-dad-i-must-have-been/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I think it was my mum and dad who taught me how to love and how to think a relationship works, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-think-it-was-my-mum-and-dad-who-taught-me-how-to-love-and-how-to/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I grew up in a very small town and didn't realise till later that I had an adventurous side. 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