About

At Hardgraft, we are passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and culture of Portugal. Our journey began with a love for storytelling and a desire to create unique experiences that connect people to this incredible country.

From The Founder
The best way to learn is through story telling. Stories stick in your heart as well as your mind
Mark Whiteley
Founder
Social Media
Our Story
Producing the highest quality story telling has been my passion from the very start. But I also like to think that we should all try and make our lives a good page turner too.

I started full time travelling in 2019 with my wife and dog. We travelled all over Europe from Latvia, Ukraine to Morocco and Italy. 

When Brexit happened we decided that we wanted to live in the E.U. still so we applied to become Portuguese residents. After choosing Portugal we then spent years looking for the perfect place in Portugal. We chose Tomar.

 

For thirty years I was an actor, I trained in London at Arts Educational and I worked in theatre, television and film. In 1999 I set up Hard Graft Theatre Company in Nottingham we later moved to Manchester.

Achievements & Awards
– 2015: Winner of a Manchester Theatre Award for Thick As Thieves, performed in an empty pram shop in Oldham (Sept 2014).

– 2016: Nominated for a Manchester Theatre Award for GRASS, performed in an empty hairdresser’s in Oldham (Sept 2015).
– BBC Alfred Bradley Award runner-up for Christmas At Our Carols.
– Winner of the TAPPS Comedy Writing Award.

Key Productions
– Produced three sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows, including opening my own venue in a charity shop.
– Adapted and produced 12 children’s classic theatre shows over the last decade, including Red Riding Hood, The Jungle Book, Pinocchio, Hansel & Gretel, and more.
– Written and produced four ghost walks across the Northwest of England, remounted every Halloween.

Site-Specific & Unique Projects
– Poles Apart: Emigrated to Poland for a site-specific performance.

– Coast to Coast: Walked 216 miles across the UK without money, food, or accommodation, turning the journey into a live performance.
– Sold the first-ever performance on eBay.
– Produced and performed national tours in living rooms and charity shops.

Acting Career
For over twenty years, I’ve worked as an actor across film, television, and theatre, bringing stories to life on stages and screens nationwide. IMDB

I bring experience, creativity, and, above all, the drive to finish what I start.

Mark you guide to Tomar

Mark Whiteley

Travel guide

Mark was an actor, writer and theatre producer before moving to Tomar.

Scroll to Top