Mark retires from role as theatre boss.
Mon 3 Jul 2017He is retiring from the role at the end of October, but says he’s not entirely stopping as he’ll be working on a number of interesting projects. Mark is also looking forward to spending more time with Valerie, his wife, and children Toby and Holly.
Mark (65) made the announcement today (Monday), admitting it will be a “wrench”, but adding: “I believe my timing is right as with the many exciting developments facing The Marlowe, there is an excellent opportunity for someone new to take it into the next phase of its history.”
He has led the venue since 1994 and during that time has seen it transform into one of this country’s most successful regional theatres. One of the biggest milestones in his time in charge was Canterbury City Council’s major redevelopment of the theatre between 2009 and 2011, when it transformed from a 950-seat converted cinema into a 1,200-seat, purpose-built venue with the addition of a new space, The Marlowe Studio, dedicated to new writing and creative activity, and the best of small-scale touring theatre.
Mark on the building site of the new Marlowe.
Since re-opening The Marlowe has achieved record sales results, attracting more than 400,000 people to its shows in 2016/17. Mark has been instrumental in attracting some of the country’s finest companies to the Kent venue, including Glyndebourne Opera, the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. The Marlowe is now one of the most popular regional venues for the major touring musicals and shows transferring from the West End.
The annual pantomime (produced with Evolution Productions) attracts audiences of more than 90,000, and the theatre’s Marlowe Friends scheme has grown to over 14,000 members.
The Marlowe has also developed a thriving creative programme, including a highly popular youth theatre, a large-scale annual community production, and an ambitious programme for schools. Since 2014, The Marlowe has also produced its own productions of new plays, some of which have transferred to leading new writing venues.
Looking back at his time leading The Marlowe, Mark said: “I have spent half my theatre career here and there have been many extraordinary changes both at the venue, and in the cultural life and profile of Canterbury. I am very proud to have played a part in some of these and I am delighted that, as I leave The Marlowe, its local and national reputation has never been higher.”
Mark started his career in 1976 at the Bolton Octagon as House Manager and then moved to the Duke’s Playhouse in Lancaster in the same role. This was followed by two years as an administrator for Second City Theatre Company in Birmingham, and then four years as a Drama Officer at the Arts Council in London. While there, he managed the new writing schemes and supported productions, including the infamous The Romans In Britain by Howard Brenton.
Mark then went back to working in a theatre with five years at Birmingham Rep as General Manager, working with legends such as Judi Dench, Richard Briers, and Derek Jacobi. At this time, Mark established a comedy club in a pub, compered by the then unknown Frank Skinner.
A four-year stint at Bristol Old Vic as Executive Director followed. This included managing a transfer to the National Theatre of a co-production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, with Timothy West and Prunella Scales.
In 1994, Mark came to Canterbury to take up the position of Theatre Director at The Marlowe.
Mark being presented with the TMA Award for Most Welcoming Theatre in 1997.
Passionate about all types of theatre, Mark understands the importance of respecting the different tastes of audiences and has been dedicated to providing them the best in whatever type of show they like to watch. And despite the pressures of being “the boss”, Mark, however busy, will always do what he calls “walking the floor”, where he will walk around the theatre most days to chat to Box Office, Stage Door, backstage etc.
The theatre industry as a whole has much to thank Mark for through his ability to talent spot; the list of people he helped in their early career is considerable and includes: Antony Minghella (writer and director of The English Patient and Truly, Madly Deeply), the writer Hanif Kureishi, and actors such as Sean Bean, Iain Glenn and Alex Kingston.
He also actively supported Kenneth Branagh when he started his Renaissance Theatre Company at the Birmingham Rep, his first foray into directing and producing.
As anyone who has met Mark will know, he is good at helping people at the beginning of their careers (and beyond), is always open to new ideas and is certainly a man who can tell a good tale!
Mark admits 41 years was a long time in the industry, but he still has vivid memories of his first job; of it being a steep learning curve and having to wear dinner jackets during the long, hot summer of ’76!
Describing theatre as a “mad but wonderful” industry, Mark says: “I don’t tend to do a lot of theatre history – it’s about the now and what we are going to do tonight, next week, next month and longer term. It’s also about how we can do it better.
Mark meets Orlando Bloom at the old Marlowe in 2008.
“For those contemplating starting in this business, do it! It’s fantastic fun and I have no regrets.”
Colin Carmichael, Canterbury City Council’s Chief Executive, paid tribute to Mark, saying: “The council would like to thank Mark for the incredible work he has done over the last 23 years and for the role he has played in making our Marlowe one of the best regional theatres in the country. We wish him the very best for the future.”