Musical role is a nice break from the normal routine for Holby actor Mark

Trusted article source icon
Friday, February 15, 2013
Profile image for Western Morning News

Western Morning News

"Workin' 9 to 5... what a way to make a livin'." Suddenly it's 1980 again and Dolly Parton is belting out 9 to 5, smash hit title track to the film she starred in with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as three office workers dealing with tyrannical boss, Franklin Hart (brilliantly played by Dabney Coleman).

Nearly 30 years later Doralee, Judy and Violet are tumblin' out of bed, stumbling to the kitchen and pouring themselves a cup of ambition, as the song lyric goes.

But the feisty women are now on stage in the first UK tour of 9 To 5: The Musical, with the familiar hit as well as Backwoods Barbie, Shine Like the Sun and new numbers.

Holby City and Brookside star Mark Moraghan has just taken on the role of the women's bullying boss, Franklin Hart, a part he is tackling with some relish.

Create the wow factor in your new kitchen by taking advantage of this fantastic NEFF promotion. Simply buy four Neff appliances and you can purchase a Neff dishwasher for half price.

Terms: Excludes warming drawers & accessories

Contact: 01458 550009

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

"He really is such a nasty piece of work," says Mark. "I thought I would look for his redeeming features... but I can't find any."

Mark, who has just turned 50, was 17 when the film came out and says he thinks he was too young to notice the message of the original film.

"I think people like Franklin Hart do still exist, but they're not allowed to show their true feelings. I think there's a lot of politics in the workplace still.

"I'm having a ball playing him. It's really frenetic. There are so many costume changes. I leave the stage and I'm having clothes ripped off. It's such a whirlwind."

Mark has had a successful career in TV drama, playing Owen Davis in Holby City for five years, Ray Wyatt in Dream Team for three years and Greg Shadwick in Brookside for two years.

In 2006 he starred in the BBC's Just The Two of Us when he was paired with Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton. It's brought about a change of direction and led to his appearing in Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the West End and a production of My Fair Lady. But, growing up in Liverpool, Mark is no stranger to music.

"I was brought up on Motown and The Beatles. The biggest thing for us was Black American music and Soul. My mum had great rhythm," recalls Mark.

"I wasn't a great dancer, but I did have great rhythm. I started out at the age of five or six doing plays in school. The teachers must have seen something in me and they started giving me lead roles. I had a great drama teacher called Peter Casey and he got me a BBC audition for a Willy Russell play. Then I started doing plays at the Unity Theatre and the Everyman in Liverpool and worked with lots of local theatre groups.

"The experiences really gave me a great grounding, but I went off and did a proper job first and worked for my cousin in a factory while doing unpaid work as an actor."

The Royle Family's Jim, Ricky Tomlinson, was his first agent, "and the rest is history," says Mark.

"The last few years have been spent doing regular roles in TV.

I started my career in theatre and I've come back to it again, after leaving Holby.

"It's so much more fun and I get better job satisfaction. I've always been a bit of a singer and people heard me singing on Just The Two of Us and I started getting considered for musicals.

"It kick started a musical career. I think you need to be quite well-known on TV for casting directors to bring you on in the first place.

"This is the most physically demanding show I've ever done... I've already lost about two stone. But the Dolly Parton music is fantastic. I get to do a great comedy song, Here For You. The show really does bounce along – it's pacy and colourful."

9 to 5: The Musical is at the Princess Theatre, Torquay from February 18-23 and the Hall for Cornwall, Truro, from March 11-16.

0
Tweet this article
Report

Your comments awaiting moderation

Be the first to comment

max 4000 characters
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tell us about your area

Got some interesting news? Write about it and let your whole community know.

  Write an article