About Mark

This a comprehensive, categorised biography.

Education

I studied History, English and Drama at Macquarie University (1977 – 1980) B.A. Dip. Ed.

I have been a Secondary Teacher of Drama and English in the New South Wales public system for the past forty-two years. As a casual teacher I worked at Concord High; on the Northern Beaches; at Asquith Girls’ High, before teaching at Canley Vale High School for nine years; Windsor High for sixteen years and finally Colo High School for twelve years. I finished teaching at the end of 2022.

In 1981, in my first year of teaching at Concord High School I wrote and produced a one-act play: Henry the Eighth- This is Your Life.

Between 1985 and into the early 90’s, whilst working at Canley Vale High, I also connected students internationally and interstate via phone links. This was done through the South Australian Government and facilitated by its principal, Colin Dunnett. I also sold educational kits for Colin and the South Australian Government in NSW and wrote, recorded, and performed my original children’s songs in South Australian public high schools and primary schools.

In my own studio I recorded a series of educational rock songs, which were released by the N.S.W. Department of Education called: Rock Historia. The kit I produced covered the main ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece and Rome and the kids could learn about them through listening to the songs and singing along. I renamed the kit: Sing Along with History and many people stream or buy the songs and download the maps, timelines, and associated worksheets that I developed to go with it.

In 1995, my band, Your System, produced a single, Shelter and Evening Blues, for which I obtained 500 blank, single covers. The students at Canley Vale High School created 500 individual covers for the same single. This was picked up by Simon Townsend’s Wonderworld, and a segment broadcast.

I formed a band with three Year 11 students in 1987 called: Mark Clark and the Barking Sharks. We played three big concerts at the school, filmed this from three cameras and made a seventy-five-minute mockumentary Fins Over Canley Vale with behind-the-scenes sequences which included virtually everybody in the school – teachers, students, the office Staff and the cleaner. We also played a handful of gigs outside of school.

We recorded two of my songs and went on national television The Ridgey Didge Show in 1988, where we presented those songs, and I presented a ‘behind the scenes’ segment about our night in the studio.

Also, on the Ridgey Didge Show I took half a dozen students, and we performed The Leopard Seal’s Song, one of my children’s songs.

At Windsor High School between 1995 and 2003, I wrote, recorded, and directed eight musicals (see Plays).

I put music to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic 144 stanza poem: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Written for stage, it has nineteen sections of music and the poem becomes the lyrics to these songs. For three years (2003 and 2005) I took a one-man-show version of the show into N.S.W. high schools, using backing tracks and visuals I created in my studio.

I taught Drama after school to groups of students at Grose Vale Primary School (2003-2004).

Now I have retired from teaching I am looking to do more writing, podcasts and book narration and coaching Higher School Certificate students for their Group and Individual Performances.

Alternative Biography

When I was born I was very young, but I do remember one thing - nothing. Three years later I turned three. I took this coincidence as a good sign. My father taught me how to ride a bike. He didn't teach me how to stop. I got hurt a lot. When I was five, my family moved from England to Australia. I wondered where they'd gone. Melbourne beckoned but we ignored that and moved to Sydney. My rounded English accent, coupled with my rhyming name ensured conflict. Fortunately, my religion and my youth saved me. I was a devout coward and my brother could fight. As a boy in primary school I inspired hundreds of my peers - I was universally despised. I took up singing lessons. I was a soprano. I didn't have the balls for anything else. I went to a tough school. I got hit a lot, mainly by the teachers. I would often see 'Clark Sux!' written in the staff rooms. To ward off my enemies and prove my manhood I began to write poetry; I joined the choir; I played the female lead in the school play. It was a co-ed school. I got the shit kicked out of me. In 1973 I got the part in a T.V. series. My best friend talked my girlfriend into dropping me; no one would sit next to me. I got the shit kicked out of me. I learned to play the bass. I was bad at maths but I could count to four. I purchased an instrument worthy of my talent. It cost $32. My friends began to take drugs but I was foolish and stayed straight. When I finished school everyone celebrated, but I wasn't invited. I wrote song after song; no one liked them. I formed band after band; no one liked them. I wrote poem after poem; no one liked them. I wrote story after story; no-one liked them. I had two children. At the age of 35 I decided to write plays. At the age of 42 I decided to stop. I wrote screenplays; no one bought them. Now I've written six science fiction novels. FOR GOD'S SAKE BUY THEM!

Awards

Since 1995, when I started writing my musical comedies, I have received nine awards for my songs. These awards have come from "The South Pacific Song Contest" and "The Australian Songwriters" Association Song Contest". I have won awards in seven categories during that time.