TAMWORTH solicitor Mark Daly first took to the stage while in high school as a way to meet girls.
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A friend suggested they audition for a musical and while they achieved their objective, Mark found he loved the bright lights and fun of performing before an audience.
“It was a rather shallow reason to take up drama in the first place, but I absolutely love it now,” Mr Daly said.
A thriller Mr Daly saw in London almost a decade ago has launched him into the director’s chair for The Woman In Black, the second Tamworth Dramatic Society production of the year at the Capitol Theatre.
“My wife and I stumbled on the play by accident,” he said.
“We were sitting on a train station about to head into London when we saw an ad for the play in a newspaper. We didn’t know anything about it at the time, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to direct it.”
The Woman In Black is the world’s longest-running non-musical play, second only to The Mousetrap, and “the suspense will get you in almost from the start”, he said.
“It’s not an easy play – it’s a thriller – and your imagination plays a huge part in it. You really need the right actors to take on the roles, and I believe Geoffrey Butler and Daniel Gillett will really nail it.”
A late bloomer, Mr Daly graduated from law school at the age of 40, having previously worked in the disability sector.
“I got my arts degree while working in disability and would have had another two years of study before I became a psychologist when a friend suggested I do law. I didn’t think I was smart enough, but I got through easily.”
Art almost imitates life in this new play, as it’s centred around a lawyer – but a “very nasty” type.
Mark directed a few plays for the Tamworth Dramatic Society in the old Retreat Theatre to nightly audiences of 50.
Then he was the first to direct the society’s Run For Your Wife in the new, 400-seat Capitol Theatre.
“It’s a much bigger space to fill (than the Retreat), but The Mousetrap last year drew big audiences to every
performance,” Mr Daly said.
“The new theatre is so magical to work in. Audiences at The Woman In Black will see an empty stage, which sets the scene of a Victorian theatre, but there is a lot of work to be done to create that atmosphere.”
Rehearsals have been ongoing for the past two months, with several members finishing The Sound of Music and choosing to continue the momentum with rehearsals for The Woman In Black.
Proceeds from the opening night on Friday, August 30, will benefit Lifeline. It runs for two weeks and will appeal to all age groups, but possibly not small children, Mr Daly said.
“Being a thriller, it might be a bit scary for little kids, but teenagers into Gothic thrillers or ghost stories will love it as much as adults of all ages.”
It’s not the first time he’s directed a play, is directing the play he first saw in London almost 10 years ago