From Cecil Hayter, the founder of the longest running youth theatre in London, the LOST Theatre and, together with Terry Hawes, the Southgate Opera Company, comes this amazing story of triumph, despair and treachery during his lifelong endeavours to create and maintain these extraordinary companies. This remarkable history is enhanced by the contributions of fifty members of these companies who share their experiences and stories of how LOST, Southgate Opera, and Cecil Hayter, changed their lives. Some are now highly successful professionals, including Ralph Fiennes, who made his first entry into theatre at LOST under Cecil's direction.