Box office worker debuts iconic theatre role in The Woman in Black playing at Richmond Theatre

A box office worker is stepping out from behind the sales desk and onto the stage as he takes on an iconic theatre role.

Mark Hawkins, who works at Richmond Theatre at Little Richmond Green, Richmond as a box office sales assistant and a tour guide, played the role of The Actor during The Woman in Black’s 30th anniversary year at the West End’s Fortune Theatre.

Now, he will be returning to the role on a UK tour, which will see him perform at Richmond Theatre in November.

Mr Hawkins said: “It’s going to be such a special week to be able to play a theatre I know so well, and an amazing full circle moment to be on the stage at Richmond Theatre.”

Steve Joyce, theatre manager at Richmond Theatre, said: “I know I speak for all of team when I say that we are incredibly excited to see Mark perform in this iconic show in our beautiful theatre.

“Richmond audiences will most likely have met Mark during his time behind our box office, and I hope they will come along to see him step out onto centre stage.

“We are very proud and will be cheering him on every single night” Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a woman in black.

He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.

It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

The Woman in Black will be shown at Richmond Theatre from November 14 until November 18.

Picture: Mark Hawkins in The Woman in Black Picture: Tristram Kenton