Theatre
Mark has just completed a second run of his production of Talking Heads at The Chelsea Theatre, directing and reprising the role of Graham Whittaker in A Chip In The Sugar with his new theatre company Dramaiocht Productions. Last November he returned to Covent Garden to play the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a production of A Christmas Carol for Dramaiocht/AJ Productions at The Actors Church. Earlier in the year also directed Talking Heads at the Chelsea Theatre for Dramaiocht Productions and performed the role of Graham Whittaker in A Chip In The Sugar. He also completed directing The Importance of Being Earnest for NC Productions in the Cotswolds and performed the role of Lady Bracknell. He also recently completed a performance as The Narrator in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in The Cotswolds for Dramaiocht Productions (dir: Amy Cochrane). Last summer he completed a two-week, highly successful run of The Sound Of Music, winner of Rose Bowl Drama Award 2021, raising £48,000 for the Winston's Wish charity, at Chedworth Manor, Cotswolds. Previously, his most recent stage performance was in two plays for Access Platform (New Writing) as part of the Vault Festival London. The roles were Soldier/Teacher (lead) in Padre (writer: Sally Davis), and Chris in Should Have Gone To Lourdes (writer: Stephen Kennedy), both directed by Stephen Bailey. Mark also recently reprised his role as Lord Rochester (lead) in Alfie James' production of HOME: For a Lost Soldier in the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, having previously played the Arts Theatre Leicester Square and Albany Theatre Deptford. He has also taken part in Alfie James' production of A Doll's House, in the role of Doctor Rank, the first disabled actor to play this role. Previously he appeared in A Pioneer's Story at The Institute of Contemporary Arts (as part of The Human Library) in a Q&A retrospective of his 30-year career, directed by Mark Smith. His other theatre credits include On Reflection in which he played Ellie, an anorexic teenager, directed by Guy Jones for the Henry Purcell Theatre at the Southbank Centre, Arthur (lead) in the Isle of Light at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton, directed by Suzanne Oliver, Larry in Greg McGee's Foreskin's Lament, directed by Lindsey Bowden at Hackney Empire and a successful run at the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh, Bona in Heelz on Wheels (drag queen) for Fittings Multimedia and Manchester Royal Exchange where it previewed prior to a national tour, Tiger Brown in The Threepenny Opera for Edinburgh Theatre Workshop which toured throughout Scotland. This was followed by Father Hood in Red Riding Hood at the Olivier Award winning Theatre Royal Stratford East (director Kerry Michael), where Mark was the first disabled actor to work in a mainstream pantomime, Mathieu in 15 Seconds touring Ireland for Tinderbox Theatre, Florindo in The Servant of Two Masters at Nottingham Playhouse, Beowulf in Beowulf for Snap Theatre Bishop's Stortford where it opened prior to a national tour, Garrgone in The Elephant Man at the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast in a tour of East Anglia for Tiebreak Theatre Company, Caliban in The Tempest and Ferdie in A Kind of Immigrant (opening at Oval House in London prior to a national tour) both for Graeae Theatre, Michael in Operation Elvis in a national tour for Northumberland Theatre Company, and Dudley (lead) in Chairperson at Riverside Studios London.
Television
Mark was recently involved in Class Act, a BBC development and showcase programme for disabled actors, with director Paulette Randall. He previously featured in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors in which he played ex-rugby star Danny Curram after he became paralysed, which leads him to make a tragic decision (Director James Larkin). His television work began with an episode of The Bill, The Old Man's Run in which he played Johnny (ex-rocker), directed by David Hayman, followed by the portrayal of the bitter teenage paraplegic Simon Redwood in the BBC drama series Specials (Director Chris Baker) where Mark was the first disabled actor to play a regular leading role. At the same time Mark could be seen on BBC1's Playdays (Director Brian Jameson more recently known for Balamory) as the first disabled presenter on childrens' TV. Mark has also appeared in a number of TV adverts, including the NSPCC's TV advertising campaign Full Stop, playing the part of an angry businessman (Director Richard Anthony), the BBC's One in Four advert for Impulse (Director Christopher Hutchins), a Holiday Care Service advert for London Weekend Television (Director Paul Quillan), and he appeared as a businessman in an ad for PC World (Director Peter Blake).
Radio
Last Christmas Mark played the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge in an audio version of a CHRISTMAS CAROL which will be available online throughout the Christmas week and into early 2022 for AJ Productions. Earlier that year he completed his second collaboration with Ruptured Duck Productions, a new audio play The Ruptured Duck, in which he plays the outrageously camp ballet teacher Mr. Winters (dir: Alfie James), to be included in this year's Watford Online Art Festival. Mark also recently played the roles of 'older journalist' in Charles Dickens' The Signalman, and 'Father' in The Little Match Girl, two audio plays for AJ Productions (dir: Alfie James). He also appeared on BBC Radio 5 playing the role of Christie Brown in My Left Foot (dir: Joan Griffiths).
Film
| Mark's most recent film role was Graham Whittaker (lead) in Alan Bennett's A Chip in the Sugar for the National Film School (director: Emma Jane Johnson). Previously he played Jerry (lead) in Top Down for Ravensbourne University (Director Will Garood), and the role of Freddy in Christmas Stocking for the homeless charity Shelter (Director Yiran Zhou). He also appeared in his third collaboration with the National Film School, taking on the role of Ken Harrison (lead) in Whose Life Is It Anyway, directed by Anthony Russell. His first film role was Garry in Deptford Graffiti for Film 4 opposite Nabil Shaban, directed by the acclaimed actor/director Phil Davies. His other roles with the National Film School include tackling the role of Richard III in 'Shakespeare's Villains' (Director Anthony Russell) and Steve in Two's Company (Director Kate Allen). Mark played Pete in Double the Trouble, Twice the Fun for Channel 4 (Director Pratibha Parmer) which was the first gay disabled love story on British TV. Mark also worked on the sci-fi feature film Gattica as disability advisor/coach to Jude Law and was screen-tested for a disability awareness campaign by film director Mike Figgis. |
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Corporate Work
Mark has also taken part in a number of corporate promotional and training projects. Most recently he performed in What's My Name, a promotional film by Napier Films for new black theatre company Tiata Fahodzi, playing a local Londoner (Director Naomi Soneye-Thomas). Previously Mark had a role in Disability Confidence Training for the BBC playing the part of Eathen Paul (Director Andrew Young). Other roles have included John in What's The Difference for Angel's Production Company (Director Stephen Engelhardt), and Mr. Wilkes in a production for the DWP by Speakeasy Productions (Director Mahnus Wake). He also played an interviewee with Take 3 Films for the Home Office (Director Kate McGrath), Simon (gay passenger) with AKT productions for British Airways (Director Andy Powrie) and John (Lead) for the NHS with the same production company and director. Early in his career Mark also presented a promotional film for the National Star Centre (college of further education) with Bristol County Council (Director Kathy Taylor), and when 27 years old he played a young man in a film for Leonard Cheshire Homes filmed in a 1950's period set in the Natural History Museum (Director Susan York).
TV & Radio Interviews
Throughout his career Mark has also given a number of live TV interviews including a recent interview with London Live TV to talk about his new inclusive theatre company, Dramaiocht Productions. He was also recently interviewed by Anna King on BBC Radio Gloucestershire about his role in The Importance of Being Earnest. Previously he was interviewed by Anthony Russell of Dramaiocht Productions for the forthcoming audio play A Christmas Carol, and an appearance last summer on Cotswold's TV to discuss his role in The Sound of Music at Chedworth Manor. Previously he was featured on London Live TV to promote Home: For a Lost Soldier at the Tristan Bates Theatre. He also appeared on BBC News London to discuss the West End transfer of the play. He has appeared on Wogan (interviewed by Joanna Lumley), Going Live (interviewed by Sarah Green), See For Yourself (interviewed by John Craven), Link, Look East, UK Living and BBC Arts. Other interviews include promotions and talks about the BBC's Class Act, A Doll's House, Whose Life Is It Anyway, On Reflection, Isle of Light, and Heelz on Wheelz. On radio he has appeared on BBC Northhampton (Isle of Light), BMRB (Specials) and the Angela Rippon radio show.
Online Media
Mark recently apeared on the online UK talk show Wonderbirds to talk about his production of A Christmas Carol at The Actors Church in Covent Garden. He also recently completed an interview with Sophia Grech for the Berklee College of Art (Boston) Podcast, discussing his career as an actor and performer (producer Daniel Martinez), which will be online mid-August. Previously he appeared in Access Within The Arts (Podcast), in an interview discussing the longevity and scope of his acting career (Dir: Sophie Wheeler).
Mark is based in North London and enjoys escaping to the country around Stratford-upon-Avon where his family lives.
