In Profile with Mark Goldthorp from the cast of Matilda
2013 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for musical theatre with the arrival of a number of new West End shows, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Broadway transfers of The Book of Mormon and Once. If we have a lot to look forward to here in the UK, then so do our friends across the pond: In April of next year, Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s smash hit West End show Matilda The Musical is to make its Broadway debut at the Shubert Theatre. Based on the popular children’s novel by Roald Dahl, Matilda The Musical took London by storm when it opened at the Cambridge Theatre last year and has since earned an array of theatre awards, including a prestigious Olivier Award for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ for original cast member Bertie Carvel. His performance as the tyrannical headmistress ‘Miss Trunchbull’ was nothing short of genius and he’ll soon have the chance to wow the American audiences just as he did here when he reprises the role on Broadway. Carvel may no longer be with our original London production, but with the help of a whole host of other talent in the company, Matilda is still one of the most popular shows in town. One such talent who is doing his part to continue the show’s good name is ensemble member, and this week’s featured In Profile performer, Mark Goldthorp.
Goldthorpe is a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), which has produced such West End stars as Caroline Sheen, Michael Ball, Chloe Hart and Daniel Boys, to name a few. Originally hailing from Yeovil, Somerset, the West Country actor has accrued a number of impressive theatre credits in his stage career so far. He performed roles in several theatrical productions in his early years, such as ‘Bobby Franklin’ in Run For Your Wife, ‘Louis’ in The Corsican Brothers and ‘Geoff’ in A Taste of Honey. It was in 2001 that he joined the company of Bill Kenwright’s UK touring production of Whistle Down The Wind in the role of ‘Deputy’, following that with another show tour, this time playing the ‘Baker’ and covering the roles of ‘Beast’ and ‘Gaston’ in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. From there, he spring-boarded his career to the next level with roles in a number of West End shows. He played ‘Claquesous’ in long-running musical Les Miserables (Palace/Queens Theatre) andwas an original cast member of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White (Palace Theatre) and The Drowsy Chaperone (Novello Theatre). After that, he joined the West End cast of Avenue Q at the Gielgud Theatre, playing the principal roles of ‘Nicky/Trekkie Monster’.
Goldthorp has performed in many further shows, such as playing the ‘Steward’ in Into The Woods (Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park), ‘John Utterson’ in Jekyll and Hyde (Union Theatre), I Love You Because (Landor Theatre), The Lady’s Not For Burning (UK Tour), Dead Guilty and A Taste of Honey. He was also involved in the Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert at the O2 Arena and appeared with other cast members of the show at the Royal Variety Performance, along with performances at the Olivier Awards and the Classic Brit Awards.
In addition to his stage work, Goldthorp has also made numerous television appearances, most notably as the character of ‘Barry’ in popular BBC sitcom My Family and in several episodes of the Doctor Who children’s spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, which starred the late Elizabeth Sladen. He also currently holds the position of Vice Principal and Head of Acting at the American Musical Theatre Academy London (AMTA of London), which has just seen one of its graduates secure a role in the highly anticipated forthcoming West End production of The Book of Mormon.
Goldthorp is now performing in the ensemble of Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre as the ‘Escapologist/Doctor’. When his adventure there comes to an end, I’m sure he’ll grab the next adventure with both hands and tackle it with the same gumption and dedication he has in all his previous projects. A wonderful talent, Mark Goldthorp is one name I wouldn’t be surprised to see in a leading role in the very near future.
By Julie Robinson @missjulie25
Saturday 24th November 2012
