But his ever-growing list of awards and accolades backs up his choice of career.

“They weren’t totally wrong because I was broke intermittently for many decades,” Los Angeles-based David tod the Jewish Telegraph.

“But they very much tried to discourage me because it’s not a very practical way to make a living. It’s passion. It’s something you do because you’re obsessed with it, and because it comes from love. Art is a work of love, that’s what it is.”

David is riding the crest of a wave over the success of his play Stereophonic - which is playing at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre until November 22.

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