Mark Jermin Biog

Mark Jermin - School Director and Principal

B.A.Hons. T.M.D

Mark is the founder and director of The Mark Jermin Stage School and Mark Jermin Management and is extremely proud of the school's achievements. At 15, Mark had established a small drama group passing on his knowledge and theatre skills to his sister and a group of her friends in a community hall in Swansea. Little did he know that these humble beginnings would lead him to run the biggest stage school in Wales!

Mark showed a keen interest in performing arts at an early age winning local and national Eisteddfods in recitation and singing. As a solo boy soprano, singing with Cor Waunarlwydd, he performed in Germany and throughout the UK.

At the age of ten, Mark decided not to accept a scholarship with St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Instead, he attended Pontarddulais School where his theatrical skills were developed. He took leading roles in several productions and later won the prestigious School Drama Award. As a young member of West Glamorgan Youth Theatre he performed in a number of plays and musicals.

Whilst studying at Gorseinon College he continued to work in various styles and disciplines including dance and gained experience dancing with the BBC Proms in the Park. After completing his 'A' levels and winning a Gorseinon College Award for Outstanding Student Contribution, Mark continued to study Theatre and Media Drama, in his final year specialising in Direction and Acting Techniques at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and University of Glamorgan. As a drama student, Mark wrote, directed and performed his one man show 'Aberfan' which was selected as one of the best student plays and was invited to perform at the National Student Drama festival in Scarborough in 1988. He won critical acclaim in the Sunday Times and Stage Newspapers. Marks was also invited to take his show to the Edinburgh Festival.

Throughout his training, Mark continued to travel back to Swansea to teach at his own Stage School which was now thriving and continuing to grow. After his degree, Mark moved to London to work at Ravenscourt Theatre School as a full time theatrical children's agent, leading a team of busy agents in becoming the UK's top children's agency. His other role at the school was as the Performance Workshop teacher, where he produced West End Gala's and other school productions.

His commitment to teaching theatre skills to children is unwavering. This dedication has been widely recognised within the theatre world at both a local and national level. Recognition of his talents has resulted in Mark and his stage school receiving a host of prestigious awards and accolades such as being selected as a sponsor and judge for Children's programmes in the BAFTA Cymru awards; Daily Mail Enterprising Young Brit Award winner 2005 for business acumen, presented by Gordon Brown; nominated for Teacher of the Year in the annual British Association of Teachers awards; outstanding contribution award for dedication and commitment at the Annual Children in Entertainment Awards; and the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan award for outstanding services to young people. Mark is a proud and dedicated BAFTA member and regularly works on both the Children's and Welsh BAFTA awards and events.

In 2004, his Stage School was the subject of a BBC 'fly on the wall' prime time documentary "Starstruck", following the trials and tribulations of the children during their classes, rehearsing for shows and going to auditions and film shoots.

In addition, he has choreographed both the opening ceremony at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium and the closing ceremony of Cardiff Arms Park, The Coca Cola Cup Final, ISA Hair Show, Salon International, West End cabarets at Her Majesty's, Criterion Theatre and Dominion Theatre. His Direction credits include Annie, Honk, Cabaret, Slice of Saturday Night, the Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Is there Life After High School, Grease, Jerry's Girls, Blood Brothers, This Must Be The Place, A Chorus Line and Les Miserables.

Mark has taught GCSE Drama and A Level drama at his Stage School for many years and under his direction the school is proud to boast 100% consecutive pass rate with every student gaining grades A*, A or B. He is extremely proud that his school is a credited centre of education and also that his students can gain a recognisable qualification via his direction so that he personally has an impact in each student's education.

Mark has seen various students grow and flourish under his guidance. Past students have trained or are currently training at RADA, LAMDA, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Guildford School of Acting, Laine Theatre Arts, Arts Educational and Mountview, to name but a few. Others are working within the industry and Mark is delighted to see a steady flow of past students who look set to make established names for themselves within the business. He is proud of each and every one of them and his role in developing their talent!

In the future, Mark Jermin is determined to take his school, students, agency and brand name to the next level. Building on the success of each venture, using his expert knowledge, taking his understanding of the industry and business acumen in exciting new directions.