Theatre
Clarke is also noted for her West End theatre work. She has played many roles, including General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls (1996), Joanne Jefferson in Rent at the Shaftesbury Theatre (1998), and Miss Sherman in Fame (1999). She played Rafiki in The Lion King from 2000-2002 at the Lyceum Theatre and in 2004 played the character of Matron Mama Morton in Chicago.
Clarke originated the role of Killer Queen in the Ben Elton/Queen jukebox musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre alongside Alexander Hanson as Commander Khashoggi, for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Mazz Murray her understudy, took over the role in 2004 and played the role up until maternity leave in 2010 where Brenda Edwards took over the role.
In 2008, Clarke made her pantomime début in the Hackney Empire's 'Mother Goose'. She starred in Once on This Island in Birmingham at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. She was also set to star in The Vagina Monologues and Once on This Island at the Hackney Empire in 2009. Clarke finished starring in the massively successful hit musical Hairspray when it closed on 28 March 2010 at the Shaftesbury Theatre due to a UK tour. She played the role of Motormouth Maybelle, alongside Phill Jupitus and Brian Conley as Edna Turnblad.
Clarke's vocal talents were heard as Davina the Diva Harp in Jack and the Beanstalk and as Carmina the Camel in Aladdin both at the Hackney Empire. In July 2010, Clarke appeared in a one-off performance at the Hackney Empire called Sounds Like Hackney alongside Clive Rowe. The show featured a wide range of songs spanning many genres.
Clarke made an appearance at Music on the Farm held at Battlers Green Farm in aid of charity singing hits from musicals that she has starred in. Her spot included "When You're Good to Mama" from Chicago, "Big Blonde and Beautiful" from Hairspray, "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King and "Seasons of Love" from Rent.
In October 2010, the Apollo Victoria Theatre, home to the musical Wicked celebrated its 80th anniversary and Clarke lent her vocal talents, appearing as a guest performer alongside other stars such as Wayne Sleep.
2011 saw Clarke take the role of Oda Mae Brown in a musical adaptation of the film Ghost. Beginning previews in March at the Manchester Opera House, the show transferred in June 2011 to the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre replacing Grease. Clarke was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for a second time, losing out on the award to Nigel Harman for his role in Shrek the Musical.
In October 2011, she appeared in a concert of the new musical Soho Cinders at the Queen's Theatre, London. Clarke has also worked as Musical Director on Meridan.
Since finishing in Ghost The Musical upon its closure in 2012, Clarke has appeared in her own one woman cabaret at the St James Theatre.
Read more about this topic: Sharon D. Clarke
Famous quotes containing the word theatre:
“To save the theatre, the theatre must be destroyed, the actors and actresses must all die of the plague. They poison the air, they make art impossible. It is not drama that they play, but pieces for the theatre. We should return to the Greeks, play in the open air; the drama dies of stalls and boxes and evening dress, and people who come to digest their dinner.”
—Eleonora Duse (1859–1924)
“... the theatre demanded of its members stamina, good digestion, the ability to adjust, and a strong sense of humor. There was no discomfort an actor didn’t learn to endure. To survive, we had to be horses and we were.”
—Helen Hayes (1900–1993)
“Make them laugh, make them cry, and back to laughter. What do people go to the theatre for? An emotional exercise.... I am a servant of the people. I have never forgotten that.”
—Mary Pickford (1893–1979)