RSC Friends

Photograph by Ellie Kurttz.

A member of the RSC since 1987, Mark’s most recent appearance has been as Mysetes, King of Persia in Michael Boyd’s Tamburlaine. Much of the discussion that ensued focused on the challenges that Marlow’s epic presents to directors and audiences. Mark drew attention to the difference in style between Marlow’s and Shakespeare’s prose. He drew our attention to Marlow’s excoriating denunciation of the law, religion and royalty. A dangerous brew.

The audience were interested in the shrewd observation that both Tamburlaine and Mycetes were populists with pronounced personality disorders. One member of the audience observed that it was a play worth seeing more than once in order to fully appreciate it.

The session then shifted its attention to Mark’s career thus far. He explained that while he was not from a theatrical family he had been inspired by two particular teachers at school and gained a place at RADA despite his parents misgivings. Stints at two regional theatres; Stoke on Trent and Coventry’s Belgrade brought him to the attention of the RSC.

Mark impressed as an unassuming man, not given to self promotion but possessed of a deep appreciation of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama as well as a keen interest in contemporary drama. He did not minimise the difficulties of joining the acting profession but expressed his constant delight in watching experienced actors bring new qualities and understanding to their roles.