In 1984, following a rape accusation from a former student, Thompson was abducted, tied to a tree and threatened by a group of feminists.
His family moved to the West Coast where he variously lived in mining towns such as Reefton and Runanga.
He played the role of Proculeius in her 1959 production of Antony and Cleopatra, from which he earned the nickname 'Proc' which stuck for the rest of his life.
The incident made headlines for some time[4] and had a major impact on Thompson's career, with protests at many performances of his solo show Coaltown Blues.
[5] A solo performance which was a personal journey through the history of New Zealand theatre, including excerpts from his own work and that of Bruce Mason and others.