Hard graft Theatre Company* is a group of freelance actors, writers, directors, inventors and aspirers that come together and create imaginative, entertaining and innovative theatre and comedy. In the quest for original stories for our audiences we have :

• Toured living rooms.
• Turned a shop in the City centre of Nottingham into a theatre.
• Toured 56 Charity Shops across the UK.
• Opened our own Edinburgh Fringe Venue (A Banardos Shop)
• Walked 216 miles coast to coast with no money, food or accommodation.
• Ever won anything.
• Emigrated to Poland.
• Sold the first performance EVER on eBay.
• Tried and failed to become a celebrity.

The first outing for Hard Graft was above a pub in Nottingham

*It's a fat bloke in his bedroom dreaming up ideas to make people smile.

Mark Whiteley
Director/Performer/Writer/Producer/bloke that drives the van and books the BnB's




Mark trained at Arts Educational and is the director of Hard Graft Theatre Company Limited.

I'm very lucky really, I had no money when I went to Drama School and no way of paying until Sir John Gielgud and Sir Anthony Hopkins stepped in to help.

He has been lucky enough to work in television, film and theatre
His theatre includes: Rats, Buckets and Bombs, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Day Kevin Came, A Cow a Mooon a Full Stop and A Slight Case of Murder, all at Nottingham Playhouse. Fire Starter for new perspectives and When Will I Be Famous, Poles Apart, Coast to Coast, Big Adventure, Thick as Thieves, Burt ‘n’ Joyce and Bedders and Pike for Hard Graft Theatre Company.

His TV credits include: Faith, Hello Girls, Heartbeat, Soldier Soldier, Peak Practice, Playing the Field, Dangerfield, Wise Up, Thief, Out of Sight and Dangerville.

Film credits include: Love and War in the Apennines, Thick As Thieves, My Last Five Girlfriends and Everything Edward.

Writing credits include: When Will I Be Famous, Poles Apart, Coast to Coast, Big Adventure, Thick as Thieves, Burt ‘n’ Joyce Dick ‘n’ Dom in Da Bungalow, Grass, Christmas at our Carol, Knife Edge, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Babushka.

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill
Performer/Workshop/devisor


Daniel is a talented Writer, performer and workshopper. He lectures at the Actors Centre London. He has worked with Hard Graft for numerous years co-writing the sell out shows Big Adventure, Coast to Coast and Poles Apart. He has a massive influence and asset to each project with. And he's bloody good!

Oldham Children's Theatre is a subsidiary of Hard Graft. it is a professional theatre company based in Oldham and does exactly what it says on the tin. Established in 2007, we create magical theatrical experiences for thousands of children and their families.

Past shows include

The Elves and the Shoemaker
Red Riding Hood
Babushka
Pinocchio
Halloween show
What Became of the Red Shoes
Turned Out Nice Again

for further information visit oldhamchildrenstheatre.co.uk