My Comedy Career: Mark Bell

Theatrical director Mark Bell's latest work, Windfall, is currently running at the Southwark Playhouse. He took time out from rehearsals to spill the secrets from his line of work.

Tell us what you do in your job.

I work as a theatre director specialising in new plays, mainly comedies of all stripes. This means in each new show I have a new team, although there are a group of actors, designers and lighting and sound specialists I like to work with. Any misconceptions? That comedy is easy. In theatre it's the hardest thing - you have to build all the same things as a drama - character and narrative etc - then add precision timing, perfect rhythm, get the pictures and focus 100% perfect and well... make it funny.

How did you first get involved in the comedy industry?

Totally by accident. I trained as as actor at Lecoq in Paris and really fancied myself as a high drama kind of actor. Let's just say I took myself rather too seriously in those days. Also I was totally useless at clown, Lecoq's 'speciality', so I set off intending never to do comedy again. However some twisted gods up there thought it would be funny if I was offered a load of comic parts, work with some great comedy companies and then be forced to teach it at drama schools. Clown became my speciality, probably because I live it rather than am good at acting it. Now I'm stuck. But I love it and would not change a thing for the world.

What key skills do you need to be able to do your job well?

Don't take yourself too seriously. And make sure the actors have fun and are not afraid to fail. Failure, getting it wrong, is where we find our best material in my niche world.

What has been your biggest career achievement to date?

The Play That Goes Wrong was a complete game changer in terms of my career (it actually opened this month 10 years ago at the Old Red Lion in Islington and is still running in the West End and on Broadway). However. considering that was the culmination of 20-odd years working on character comedy, clown and comic storytelling, perhaps it's the whole big set of accidents and missteps that led me here that I am most proud of. You can't make it up. Except you can and I did.

And what has been the biggest challenge/disappointment?

I guess not acting anymore. I loved acting and hadn't really thought I'd do anything else. But then the parts were getting fewer, so I started teaching, then directing... But as I say, wouldn't change a thing. Expect there is one part in Windfall I am perfect casting for... all it would take is a banana peel and open drain...

Talk us through a typical day.

Never the same really. Unless you count the endless days at a desk reading editing and sometimes writing scripts. The last few weeks have been with my wonderful cast in the Windfall rehearsals; they are really stupid - and I mean this as the greatest compliment I can give - and we have improvised and made fantastic mistakes and laughed a lot. This is where I am happiest.

Tell us a trick/secret/resource that you use to make your job quicker/easier.

Being able to teleport. I hate travelling.

How are you paid?

It's all fees and royalties from previous shows. Figures can change a lot month to month.

If you could change one thing about the comedy industry, what would it be?

Speaking only of theatre: for people to stop competing. Out-shouting each other, being negative or just being dicks. We are not fighting over parts, we can all make our own. And having said that, if that guy slips on the peel and falls down the drain... that would be ok, right?

What tips would you give for anyone looking to work in your area of the industry?

Start making things as soon as you can. Anything that you really like doing, anything that makes you laugh. Do go to drama schools or attend courses, but ALWAYS create your own work. Whatever you wish you could do, or believe you can do, begin it now. Boldness has a Power and a Magic in it!

(I'm quoting Goethe here just to end on a pretentious note. And getting it wrong. Still living it!)

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