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Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. Sleep was born on 17 July 1948 in Plymouth, Devon, and is known for his appearances on BBC's The Real Marigold on Tour and ITV's The Real Full Monty. Sleep is also a published author, having written Variations on Wayne Sleep and his autobiography Precious Little Sleep. In 1998, Sleep founded the Wayne Sleep Foundation, which supports dance students in financial need. As of 2023, Sleep is 75 years old.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Wayne Philip Colin Sleep |
| Date of Birth | 17 July 1948 |
| Age | 76 years |
| Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| Occupation | Dancer, Director, Choreographer, Actor |
| Notable Works | The Tempest, The Soldier's Tale, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The First Great Train Robbery, The Tales of Beatrix Potter, Death on the Nile, Elizabeth, The Virgin Soldiers |
| Awards and Honours | OBE, Honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Teesside and Plymouth, Carl Alan Award, Show Business Personality of the Year (1984), Two Guinness Book of Records entries |
| Personal Life | Married to José Bergera, lives in West London |
| Charity Work | Wayne Sleep Foundation, The Wayne Sleep Dance Scholarship |
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What You'll Learn
Wayne Sleep's age and early life
Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. He was born on 17 July 1948 in Plymouth, Devon, and is currently in his mid-70s.
Sleep's mother enrolled him at an early age in the Geraldine Lamb Dance School, where he studied tap and jazz dancing. He wanted to emulate Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire rather than become a ballet dancer. In around 1951, Sleep, his mother, and his siblings moved to Hartlepool, where they lived for about ten years. He began ballet lessons in 1955 with Muriel Carr and later gained a Leverhulme Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in 1961.
In 1966, Sleep joined the Royal Ballet, becoming a senior principal dancer and performing globally. Despite his short stature, Sleep became known for his explosive technique, giant leaps, and natural charisma. Sleep's height, at 157 cm (5 ft 2 in), made him the shortest male dancer ever admitted to the Royal Ballet School. However, his height also allowed him to explore other opportunities, such as acting and choreography. Sleep has appeared in various productions, including 'The Tempest', 'The Soldier's Tale', and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' as Puck. He also formed his own dance company, DASH, which performed in London's West End and embarked on a world tour.
Sleep has had a successful career spanning several decades and has received numerous honours and awards. He has two entries in the Guinness Book of Records and was named Show Business Personality of the Year in 1984. He has also received honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Teesside, and Plymouth. In addition, Sleep was awarded the Carl Alan Award, recognising his outstanding contributions to dance.
Sleep has also given back to the dance community through his charity, the Wayne Sleep Foundation, which he established in 1998. The foundation provides financial support to dance students and helps them pursue their vocational goals.
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Career as a dancer, actor, and choreographer
Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. He was born in Plymouth, Devon, on 17 July 1948, and his mother enrolled him at an early age with Geraldine Lamb Dance School, where he studied tap and jazz. Sleep wanted to be the next Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire rather than a ballet dancer. However, he began ballet lessons in 1955 with Muriel Carr and gained a Leverhulme Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in 1961. He joined the Royal Ballet in 1966 and became a senior principal dancer performing globally. At 157 cm (5 ft 2 in), Sleep was the shortest male dancer admitted into the Royal Ballet School.
Sleep's acting credits include Tigger in Winnie the Pooh and Villiers in The Virgin Soldiers (1969). He also appeared as himself in The Goodies episode "Football Crazy". He performed as a dancer in The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971) as Squirrel Nutkin and Tom Thumb. Sleep took the role of Puck in one of the early productions of Benjamin Britten's Shakespeare opera A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2009, he appeared as the MC in Life is a Cabaret by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Sleep has also directed the choreography of several productions, including the tango scene in the 1978 film Death on the Nile.
Sleep has appeared in numerous television shows and films, including the BBC series The Real Marigold on Tour and ITV's The Real Full Monty. He has also been a judge on dance competition shows such as Strictly Dance Fever and Stepping Out. In addition to his work in television and film, Sleep is a patron of the British Ballet Organisation and vice president of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Vic-Wells Association. He has also published an autobiography titled Precious Little Sleep.
Sleep's unusual physique has often led to him being cast in character roles. He created the role of Mr. Mistoffelees in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats in London's West End in 1981. Sleep has also performed in several pantomimes, including Beauty and the Beast and Jack and the Beanstalk. In addition to his stage and screen credits, Sleep is a renowned dancer and has performed globally with the Royal Ballet. He established a world record in 1973 by doing an entrechat-douze, a jump with 12 beats of the feet, on the British television programme Record Breakers.
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Personal life and friendships
Wayne Sleep, born on 17 July 1948, is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. Sleep was born in Plymouth, Devon, and moved with his family to Hartlepool in around 1951, where they lived for about 10 years. Sleep's mother enrolled him at an early age in the Geraldine Lamb Dance School, where he studied tap and jazz dancing. Sleep dreamed of becoming the next Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire, rather than a ballet dancer.
Sleep is openly gay and came out in his 40s. He has been candid about his mother's experience of having him out of wedlock, as his father was already married. His mother loved him deeply but often tried to hide him due to the ridicule she faced from friends and family. Despite this, Sleep maintained that he never felt he lacked another parent.
Sleep has also been open about his friendship with Freddie Mercury. In an interview with The Guardian, he shared that Mercury would often attend the ballet with him, after which they would share long dinners and watch videos of great sopranos at Mercury's home. Sleep also revealed that he found love later in life with his husband, José Bergera, after having given up on relationships. Sleep shared that he felt most at home in front of a crowd, and he continues to tap dance.
Sleep has also been mistaken for theatre critic Jack Tinker, with whom he was good friends. Sleep has received honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Teesside, and Plymouth and is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, an industry honour voted for by dance professionals in recognition of outstanding contributions to dance.
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Charity work and legacy
Wayne Sleep OBE is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. He was born on 17 July 1948 and is currently 76 years old. Sleep has had a successful career in the performing arts and is also known for his charity work and legacy.
Sleep is the founder of the Wayne Sleep Foundation, a charity that provides support to students pursuing performing arts education. The foundation holds annual auditions and provides scholarships to nominated students of dance and theatre. The charity aims to expand its support to include even more students, especially during difficult financial times.
Sleep is also a patron of the British Ballet Organisation and the vice president of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Vic-Wells Association. He has received honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Teesside, and Plymouth and is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, recognising his outstanding contributions to dance.
In addition to his charity work, Sleep has left a significant legacy in the world of performing arts. He has appeared on various television shows and is mentioned in the film "Billy Elliot" and its British stage musical version. Sleep was also the first artist to appear on BBC Radio 2's "Friday Night Is Music Night" in 2016 and has published his autobiography, "Precious Little Sleep". He is known for his unique physique and has created iconic roles, such as Mr. Mistoffelees in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats". Sleep's talent and perseverance in the face of initial rejection due to his stature have inspired many.
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Honours and recognition
Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. He is known for his appearances on BBC's The Real Marigold on Tour and ITV's The Real Full Monty. Sleep has received several honours and recognition for his contributions to dance and entertainment. Here is a list of his notable honours and recognition:
- Sleep was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his services to dance and entertainment.
- He received honorary degrees from the Universities of Exeter, Teesside (or Teeside), and Plymouth.
- Sleep is a recipient of the Carl Alan Award, an industry honour voted for by dance professionals, recognising his outstanding contributions to dance.
- He was the first artist to appear on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night in 2016.
- Sleep is the subject of a painting by David Hockney, titled "George Lawson and Wayne Sleep" (1972-1975), which is exhibited at the Tate in London.
- He was mentioned numerous times in the film "Billy Elliot" and the British stage musical version.
- Sleep established a world record by performing an entrechat-douze, a jump with 12 beats, on the British television programme "Record Breakers" in 1973. This record still stands.
- He has two entries in the Guinness Book of Records and was named Show Business Personality of the Year in 1984.
- Sleep was the subject of "This Is Your Life" and "The South Bank Show".
- He has written two books: Variations on Wayne Sleep and his autobiography, "Precious Little Sleep".
- Sleep founded the Wayne Sleep Foundation, a charity that supports dance students in financial need. He also set up the Wayne Sleep Dance Scholarship to help aspiring dancers with tuition fees.
- He is a patron of the British Ballet Organisation and the South West region of the Royal Academy of Dance.
- Sleep is the vice president of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Vic-Wells Association.
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Frequently asked questions
Wayne Sleep was born on 17 July 1948 and is currently 76 years old.
Wayne Sleep is 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) tall.
Wayne Sleep is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor. He is known for his appearances on BBC and ITV shows, such as "The Real Marigold Tour" and "The Real Full Monty". Sleep is also a prime-time TV personality, having been on shows like "Wogan" and "Parkinson" in the 80s and 90s.
The Wayne Sleep Foundation, established in 1998, supports dance students in financial need. It provides scholarships and funding for students who have gained admission to performing arts vocational colleges.
