The 5-minute Interview: Luke Dixon, Theatre director

'I don't spend my life surrounded by showgirls – only some of it'

Luke Dixon, 54, is a theatre director and teacher, as well as the author of 'Play Acting'. Known for his productions with the touring group Theatre Nomad he is currently involved in the International Workshop Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. It runs until 27 September.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Rushing between workshops. I am also preparing for Annie Sprinkle's visit to London. She is a porn star/performer and it is her first visit to London for 20 years. The last time she visited, her show was stopped by the authorities.

A phrase I use far too often ...

Fantastic.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

Their own potential. I just think generally people don't realise the things they are capable of. The festival I'm doing is a month of workshops and what these workshops have brought out of the people taking part in them is astonishing. Whether they have been pole dancing or puppet making it has been great.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was ...

I'm a very lucky person – surprising things seem to happen to me a lot. Probably it was the time when I was rushed across the Berlin Wall by Brecht's daughter. We were celebrating his birthday in East Berlin and I needed to get there.

A common misperception of me is ...

That I spend my life surrounded by strippers and showgirls. Really I only spend some of my time with them.

I am not a politician but ...

I would close all schools. Schools and the national curriculum do a disservice to children. Their structure does not feed creativity.

I'm good at ...

Making things happen. I'm a very good enabler.

I'm very bad at ...

Swimming. I'm terrified of water. Even after three years of therapy I still hate the idea of swimming.

The ideal night out is ...

In! I spend all my nights out so a night in front of the telly watching rubbish and endless episodes of Seinfeld is perfect. The people who I would spend it with know who they are.

In moments of weakness I ...

Sneak off to the cinema in the afternoon for some peace and quiet.

You know me as a theatre director but in another life I'd have been ...

A beekeeper. I've just started keeping bees and I love it.

The best age to be is ...

The current one. Every decade has been better than the one before. The older I get the more things I seem to be doing. I'm really enjoying life.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Go for it. What's the worst that can happen?

Gaby Aung