I'm feeling militant.

I believe that theatre should be energised, exciting, an adventure. I believe that when the lights go down we should create a playground.
I believe that audiences want to travel with me, to escape their normal lives’ and join in my adventure. I believe that learning through art should be entertaining.I believe that we should inspire our audiences to make the world a better, kinder, stronger place.

I have put stories everywhere, in houses, in barns, in fields, shops, schools and a few theatres. I have inspired writers, educators and directors; I’ve put issues under the spotlight and educated many. I have teased audiences and turned my back on the system that creates mundane fodder. If you dare to ask an audience, to speak to them honestly you will be amazed where they want to go and what they want to see and feel. My story begins when the audience engages and it finishes years down the line.

Mark WhiteleyActor/Writer/Producer

Maverick As Ever

If you have been around from the start of Hard Graft and seen the living room tour, the walk, the Polish Adventure, the charity shops and the old Redmayes and Todd shop we turned into the coolest place in Notts for a month, you'll know by now that I don't do things "normally". Normal is for everyone else, normal is for all those others. Don't get me wrong I like normal, it's comfortable, but I don't want to be it. You are like me, a maverick.

You know I am in love with stories, from sitting listening to my family tell of their adventures to blockbuster movies. Stories make us tick, God knew it with his Bible, then came the Quran (please, I don't know about the time line of religion, I'm just making a story comparison and I don't need a Jehad). We all love to hear, read, watch and immerse ourselves in stories. Stories teach and entertain, they excite, rouse and stir.


Let's break out together...


So, Mr. and Mrs. Maverick, this is the first part of a long adventure that I'm about to embark on and I need your help. I need your stories.

If you don't send me them all this will come to nought, so please take 5 minutes and send me your tales.

I can read stories if you Facebook or email me hardgraft@gmail.com
You could send a video or a voice recording or you can PHONE in your Fables - 0161 652 6026


Could be work related. I was told a story about a lad with learning difficulties who locked the meter reading man in the cellar as he thought he was an Hobbit.


Personal stories. I know a couple who separated for a month because neither had ever experienced another partner. The plan was a month of complete freedom then get married.

My youth. I went on the run from the Police for 24 hours after I was ordered to appear as a witness in court.

Time for something different

I believe that theatre should be energised, exciting, an adventure.  I believe that when the lights go down we should create a playground.  I believe that audiences want to travel with me, to escape their normal lives’ and join my missions.  I believe that learning through art should be entertaining. I believe that we can inspire our audiences to make the world a better, kinder, stronger place.  When I tell my Children a story at bedtime I always put them in it, to be in the adventure is far, far more fun.

Over the last twenty years I have put stories everywhere, in houses, in barns, in fields, shops, schools and a few theatres.  I have inspired writers, educators and directors; I’ve put issues under the spotlight and educated many.  I have teased audiences and turned my back on the system that creates mundane fodder. 

If you dare to ask an audience, to speak to them honestly you will be amazed where they want to go and what they want to see and feel.  My story begins when the audience engages and it finishes many years from now.

Carting a cart.

This is our new cart, it was bought from Manchester Library theatre where it was used for Mother Courage.  It's 3m x 1m x 2m  and it is beautiful, however it is causing me sleepless nights in its transportation.  I have to move it from the Library theatre 10 miles to the Oldham Library where it will be used as marketing in their foyer.  from there it goes 4 miles to Uppermill our rehearsal space, then back to the Library for the first part of the performance and then back to Uppermill for the last three performances.  4 journeys in total at £100 per journey.  I'm spending more on this than it warrants.

I suppose in the old days the actors would load up the cart with the props and pull it to the next venue.

Keep your Spirits up

Have you ever seen a ghost?  The next time you’re with friends or family ask them if they have ever had anything a little mysterious or weird happen to them in their life.  Ask if they have ever caught a glimpse of something in the corner of their eye and when they turn to look there is nothing there.

Twelve months ago amateur ghost hunter and professional storyteller Mark Whiteley started work collecting ghost stories in and around Oldham, he delved into books, local libraries and fished through back catalogues of the Oldham Chronicle to build up a 90 minute ghost adventure around the town.

“When I first started I had a few stories” Mark explained “ The ghost caught on video in the Butterflies nightclub or the gruesome tale of Mary Berry our own serial killer, but the best stories always come from my audiences”.  The walk breaks for an interval in the bar Jackson’s Pit (there’s a old man’s spirit in the back room) and that’s where the audience have a chance to tell their tales.  Past shocking stories include

§  The Ghost in the gents’ toilets in York.

§  Ted the Oldham council caretaker who stole all the keys.

§  The spirit of a dog who lived in a wardrobe in the spare bedroom.

At the beginning I always ask who believes in ghosts and maybe a couple of hands will dare volunteer, but by the end they will all admit to seeing those shadows in the corner of their eyes and one or two will disclose that they too have a ghost in the house.

Halloween Ghost walks for both kids and the brave, 12 walks over 2 nights and 40 scary stories of ghosts and ghouls.

who to work for.

Who do you please?

Your audience?  The punters?

Your Director to ensure you get another job after this one?

Yourself?

So having answered that I ask myself for whom should I write stories for?  If you are happy with your work, someone somewhere will probably enjoy it and will get some kind of insight.

This is a short blog, a bite from the Englishman, if you can make things happen get in touch as my strength grows and my ambitions broaden.

In the end all we have is the past, so we must work hard for the future to write that past.

The V's have it!

When, at 27 I went to London to become an Actor I was full of passion for my art.  I learnt under Dr Adrian James at Arts Educational about being an artist, not just a puppet on the telly.  We worked for 12 hours a day and talked about Chekov, Shakespeare and Brecht.  We wore masks, bought costumes from charity shops and created characters from animals.  Back then I wanted to change the world, to explore to make art for everyone.

So, 20 years later what has happened to the young man with Nottingham accent?  I will tell you, he conformed.  He sold out and got fat off television adverts and bit parts in pointless TV dramas.  He spent all his time and energy trying to get jobs, writing letters when he could have written art.

Don't get me wrong, I do think I have done a bit to open other's eyes to the vast world of creativity, but I should be doing more.

The point - all you young artists reading this listen up, because before you know life will take over your art and you will be feeling and looking like me.

BE STRONG, BE INNOVATIVE AND BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE.