Richard MARKS

Fond memories of Richard Marks, whose birthday would have been today 23rd Aug. A generous teacher of Theatre Design and Scenic Art. A large personality and a curious mind equally happy to teach about gardening, Classical Art, Baroque music, fine dining and life skills. Life loving and ebullient Dickie was a fine raconteur and letter writer who would speak of his time in ENSA and at RADA as also his long career as Theatre Designer and Scenic Artist. In a letter last year he referred to having designed shows in which young actors Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Stewart, Jean Bolt, Jenifer Sterling, Maria Aitken and David Schofield appeared. He enjoyed collaborations (amongst others) with directors David Scase and Knight Mantell and was proud of his work with director Tony Colegate in championing the plays of O’Casey. Enjoying life long friendships with many fellow practitioners he most recently spoke fondly of Lynda and John Hilder who he worked with in York, Pitlochry and Worthing. I particularly remember ‘Dickie’s’ designs for The Country Wife at Salisbury Playhouse in 1982.
Richard also worked on many productions at the Royal Northern College of Music. Richard studied the operas of Haydn and vociferously argued for their reappraisal, teaching himself to play piano forte in the process.

Happy memories of Wilton-born Richard Marks. Dickie trained as an actor with Joan Collins at RADA but soon followed his true calling as a Scenic and Costume Designer. He had hundreds of productions to his credit in a long career which included being Head of Design at Liverpool Playhouse, Manchester Library Theatre, York Theatre Royal and of course Salisbury Playhouse. He also had a nation-wide portfolio and worked a lot in Scotland. He was a talented scene painter and one of his more memorable schemes was in his own house in Campbell Road where a classical scene started at the front door and traveled up the stairs all the way to the main bedroom.
He was a passionate gardener and great fun to be with, a true one-off.