The Artist Formally Known as Hard Graft

Biography & Awards

Actor, Writer & Director

This be the biography of Mark Whiteley or the artist formally known as Hard Graft. After the great pandemic of 2019 Hard Graft slipped into a new state of being, gone were the formal shows and back are the original energy that ignited my company back in 1997. 

1997

New Beginnings.

I came out of Arts Educational school London with a diploma in acting to educate and excite the world with my own brand of acting, only to find out that nobody cared that much. I did however manage to get cast in many T.V. dramas including Peak Practice, Dangerfield, Heartbeat and Soldier Soldier to pay the bills.

1998

A Company Is Started.

As an actor I got frustrated to begin with making no headway with my career until he decided to put my own work on in Nottingham. 

1999-2002

Pub Theatre

I, along with many others put shows on in pubs in Nottingham city centre. I was also still trying to build a career as an actor appearing in In Love and War and Playing the field. 

But the call to be my own boss was too strong.