His role in Prisoner fulfils a longtime dream for this young fan of the show

Meet Robert Summers, the boy who has stolen the heart of The Freak (Yes, she does have one!).

Robert, 11, is now appearing in Ten's Prisoner as runaway Shane Munroe, a lonely child who broke into the home of Joan Ferguson.

For Robert, the television role is his third on the small screen as a runaway. He played a small part in Cop Shop last year as a troublemaker who refused to tel the police where he lived, and late last year he appeared in the ABC series Home as a runaway.
Working on Prisoner is fulfilling a dream for Robert, who has long been a big fan of the show.

"I've always liked Maggie Kirkpatrick (she plays Joan) and Judy McBurney (Pixie) the most," he said.

"Maggie is really nice. I didn't know what to expect after watching her as The Freak".

Television viewers are seeing a different side of the usually tough warder at Wentworth as she becomes very attached to the child and concerned about the boy's drunken father who beats him.

"She caught Shane when he broke into her house after he ran away from his father," Robert said.

"My father tells her he doesn't want me so Joan tries to legally adopt me.

"But then my father changes his mind and decides he wants me back, so there is a big struggle."

The Freak also becomes attached to Shane's small dog, Nikki. The character's own dog, a rotweiller, was poisoned in the series several years ago and the combination of child and dog certainly brings out a softer, maternal side to Joan.

"Shane is a little ratbag," Robert said, "and not atall like me."

"But I liked him and I thought he was very game. He hasn't got much sense and he's not used to the love and discipline Joan gives him.

"Sometimes he forgets his discipline and goes off his head at her, but mainly he really likes her."

Robert, with his happy personality and crop of stark blond hair, was a popular member of the cast for the three months he was filming.

"Everyone at Prisoner was really great towards me," he said. "We had lots of fun."

Robert has been acting for several years since a friend's agent spotted him in a small theatre production of Oliver.

Robert, who is in Year 7 at Laverton High School, near Melbourne, plans to become a paediatrician (specialist doctor for children) when he finishes school, but wants to continue acting.

"I get a lot of ribbing at school," Robert admitted to TV WEEK, "because some of them are jealous and because I like doing modern dancing and they think I'm a sissy. But when they saw me as Shane, they were surprised!"
Robert has a twin brother, Brendan, who, he says, does not share his passion for acting. "Brendan is into sports and footy and everything, but he doesn't mind me being in prisoner," he said.

Robert lives with his parents and 13-year-old sister, Melissa.

"A lot of parents wouldn't have time, but Mum and Dad always find time to talk about my work so I'm very lucky." he said.

TV Week Magazine
23rd June 1984.
Thanks to Declan