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Mark Gillis is a British actor, writer and director. He is best known for writing, producing and directing the feature film Sink.

Profile
Mark Gillis was born in Hayes in North West London and attended Dr Triplett's Primary School and Bishopshalt School. He studied at the University of Kent where he obtained a degree in Biochemistry.

While at university he formed the three man comedy act 76a. After performing at the Edinburgh Festival he was asked to write for BBC Radio 4's topical comedy show Week Ending and he did this while touring extensively as a writer and performer with the group. He has combined writing, performing and directing ever since.

He co-founded and was artistic director of the touring production company LPC, with whom he produced and directed several European tours of modern classic plays such as Waiting for Godot, The Caretaker, The Importance of Being Ernest and GB Shaw’s The White Lady.

As an actor he has appeared on stage, film and television and was formerly a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He has written and directed several short films including A Quiet Drink which was selected for funding and production by UK Film Council. Two of his feature length screenplays have been optioned and are now in development. He is currently finishing his first play, Needs Must, following its rehearsed reading at the National Theatre Studio.

Gillis’ debut feature film as writer/director, Sink, had its cinema release in late 2018, distributed by Verve Pictures. Associate Producers include Alan Rickman and Mark Rylance, who joined the project after seeing an early cut of the film. It premiered at Curzon Soho, where Gillis was joined by Rylance and lead actor Martin Herdman for a Q&A. The film was positively reviewed, receiving a100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is due for release on DVD in May 2019.

Selected theatre
As an actor his work in theatre includes Agrippa in the Chichester production of Antony & Cleopatra with Kim Cattrall and Michael Pennington. He was formerly a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in As You Like It, Macbeth and Troilus and Cressida, in seasons at the RSC Stratford and The Barbican. He played Mark in the Irish premiere of Mark Ravenhill’s play Shopping and Fucking. The play caused some controversy and there were protests from local media questioning whether Northern Ireland was ready for this play. The theatre was picketed in Belfast and at other venues on the tour.

Other theatre includes Antony & Cleopatra (Liverpool Playhouse), Mamma Mia! (West End) A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabler (Battersea Arts Centre), Rush (King's Head Theatre), Crystal Clear and Gatsby (King's Head Theatre), The Dumb Waiter (Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, L.A.) Ivanov (Bridewell Theatre), The Memory of Water (Vienna's English Theatre), Canaries Sometimes Sing (Old Red Lion), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Finborough Theatre), The Caretaker (San Fedele Theatre, Milan), Waiting for Godot (Tour) and Whose Life Is It Anyway? (Tour).

Selected television and film
He has appeared in several television and film roles including Lee & Dean, Silent Witness, The Bill, Emmerdale, Grange Hill, Eastenders, Holby City, The Brittas Empire, Absolute Hell, Prick, Jean Moulin, Either/Or, Going Home and An Ideal Husband.