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| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has come a long way since playing Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream |
HE HAS lit up the Maracana for England and in the Community Shield he stole the show for Arsenal at Wembley.
San Marino's 7,000 capacity Stadio Olimpico may not be the grandest venue for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be resuming his international career after 10 months out with a series of injuries.
But thanks to a coming-of-age experience over a decade ago, the England international has learned to be completely at home on any stage.
Even when wearing donkey's ears and singing a solo - as he was asked to do as a 10-year-old in 2004 for the role of Bottom in the St John's College, Southsea adaptation of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
"I really cannot sing," said Oxlade-Chamberlain self-deprecatingly at an event for England team sponsor Vauxhall ahead of the double-header against San Marino and Switzerland.
"I played Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream and had to do a solo on stage, a little song.
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| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is now an England regular with 20 caps |
"But I got through it and was given a standing ovation and that sort of experience through life maybe prepares you for when you are a bit older. That was when I looked back and though, yes, doing that definitely helped me.
"I have my doubts, as everybody does in certain situations. But I have learned along the way how to deal with those pressures and types of situations. Once I have been chucked in at the deep end, I find a way to wiggle out, get to the other side and escape. It does take time to learn those kinds of things."
Certainly it was a memorable performance.
"The script required everybody else to have to cover up their ears so he made up the worst tune possible and I had to teach him to sing badly," recalled his musical director Sarah Reeves. "The notes went up and down and deliberately sounded terrible.
"He was not very confident at first and had to spend a lot of time being persuaded to play the role. He was worried that is was himself, Alex, who was being made to be the laughing stock, rather than the character he was playing, Bottom. Your credibility with your peers is quite important when you are in Year 6.
"But I think coming through that process was the making of Alex within the school - obviously, people knew he was good at football and he was always quite confident, but he really grew into the part."
Come performance-time, though, Oxlade-Chamberlain clambered in turn into costume, character and spotlight.
"The finch, the sparrow and the lark," he warbled. "The plainsong cuckoo grey, Whose note full many a man doth mark, And dares not answer - NAY!"
While father Mark, an England international himself, was Oxlade-Chamberlain's guiding light into a career in football, mother Wendy had additional hopes for her little star.
"My mum always tried to push me to do drama at school and I never really understood why until now, to be honest," said Oxlade-Chamberlain. "I never wanted to be somebody on the stage, but I was always quite good at it so my teachers kept forcing me into the situation.
"But the last play I ever agreed to do was 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. I did drama until I was about 14 but I had never got heavily-involved in any of the big plays and was trying to get my football rep going, my street cred."
Ms Reeves believes that while Oxlade-Chamberlain may have struggled to play a more serious role, he was happy being the comic.
"He was a really, really nice boy and completely comfortable even if the joke was on him," she said. "My daughter was also in his class and always says what a nice person he was."
As his development continued into his teenage years, Oxlade-Chamberlain was able to withstand the destructive influences of peer pressure - even if he had to be reminded of his priorities by his dad from time-to-time.
"Growing up, it was frustrating not being able to do 'nothing' things that my friends did," said Oxlade-Chamberlain. "Going to the odd party here or there.
"But my Dad always set the record straight. If I wanted to make it, I couldn't do those things at that time. When the time is appropriate I would be allowed to. But then I had to stay focused.
"I was always good, to be fair. My mum and dad were never too controlling, but I always really respect their advice and still do. Especially my dad - I always trust his advice.
"He never 'demands' I do something but he would be very unhappy if I didn't. So I have always listened."
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