PETER A CLARK BA (HONS) trained as an actor & singer at
Italia Conti’s Stage School in London. He had a beautiful tenor voice, taking
leading roles in well-known musicals - notably ‘Frederick’ in ‘Pirates of
Penzance’ by Gilbert & Sullivan at the tender age of 16! He played drums in
a Jazz Band, and taught himself to play Folk Guitar and 5-stringed, longneck
banjo (Bluegrass style!)
In 1964 he formed The Natterjacks folk group, and they performed throughout Southern England. His wife, Brandy, joined in 1965; they had great success via radio, television and records. They ran two folk clubs: the ‘Lion’s Den’ in Stevenage; and ‘Everybody’s Inn’ in Hertford. When The Natterjacks disbanded Peter joined another group, The County Set, performing alongside artistes such as Brian Poole, Morecambe and Wise, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Jimmy Tarbuck. Folk singing has remained a lucrative talent throughout his life.
In the 1970’s he worked for the BBC as a Film Cameraman on ‘school television’, Play School with Brian Cant; and drama productions like ‘The Very Merry Widow’ starring Moira Lister. Later, he worked freelance with many famous people: notably Benny Hill, Larry Grayson, and Paul Eddington. He even filmed an interview with the great Noel Coward. He worked for TV and Film companies on documentaries, TV commercials, news items, and feature films such as ‘Return of the Saint’ and ‘Superman -The Movie’.
In 1971 he helped create ‘The Young Idea’ for Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society; directing and stage-managing shows for them and other societies. Among others he stage‑managed ‘The Geisha’ in Cheshunt, directed ‘Cinderella’ in Newark and ‘Desert Song’ in Hatfield. He directed Gilbert & Sullivan operettas for the Herts ‘G & S’ Society, and produced the funniest version of ‘Trial By Jury’ they had ever seen!
Peter took over the Academy in 1980 injecting into it his energy and sense of humour, along with many exercises and ideas he developed from his own experiences - as well as those taught to him by Ruth Conti. After earning a degree in English & Drama he began teaching in mainstream schools as well as running the Stage School. As head of Drama at Meridian School, Royston, he directed a wonderful production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in 1992, followed by ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ a year later.
By the 1990’s Peter was regularly directing shows for Amateur Societies. His production of ‘South Pacific’ for the Stevenage Lytton Players became a landmark, as was ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’. He both directed and acted as Chairman for ‘Old Time Music Hall’ productions, creating a notable and memorable show for the millennium.
The school, under Peter’s leadership, branched out into making video films - and he extended classes to include children with disabilities or special needs, as well as classes for adults and senior citizens. Peter has encouraged a great love and awareness of drama in his students, both in film and theatre, and has instilled confidence in all who have been taught by him.