Sponsored by
Peacehaven actor thrilled to star in first West End show The Tailor Made Man
Clive Ward in Tailor Made Man
An actor who grew up living above a watch and clock shop in Peacehaven will perform in a West End Musical alongside Steps star Faye Tozer, Dylan Turner from Mamma Mia and American comedian Mike McShane from Seinfeld.
Clive Ward, 52, who now lives in London, but lived with his relatives in the house attached to WG Davis in South Coast Road until he left home, will tread the boards at the Arts Theatre in London.
The Tailor Made Man is the true story of William Haines, the silent screen star who was fired by Louis B Mayer of MGM Studios because he was gay and refused to marry and give up his lifelong partner Jimmy Shields.
Clive is playing the older version of Jimmy Shields in the play.
The former Peacehaven resident attended Annecy Primary School in Seaford, then Lewes Old Grammar School, finally leaving Peacehaven in 1978 to go to university and studied at New College of Speech and Drama in London.
Clive said he had fond memories playing on the cliff tops and by the Meridian Monument in Peacehaven as a child.
On appearing in the play Clive said: “I’m loving it. It is such a joy.
“I’m sharing a dressing room with Mike McShane so I get hear lots of anecdotes.
“This is one of the loveliest companies to work for. I’m sure Tailor Made Man is going to be a success.”
This is the first time that Clive has appeared in the West End.
He added: “I’m 52 and I have enjoyed my career. I have done lots of bits of touring and commercials.
“It’s the first time I have been in the West End. To have my name in a West End production feels fantastic.”
So does Clive have any tips for aspiring actors?
“Try to get into one of the major drama schools, like RADA or Central. Otherwise it can slow things down for you as there are so many actors and drama schools churning out students but there aren’t that many jobs to go around.
“A lot of the time the casting directors will look for anyone who has gone to RADA or Central, that’s the bitter truth of it all.
“You can break through but you have got to be very lucky and peristent and not much good at anything else but acting. If I had been good at anything else I would probably have been doing it by now!”
Clive has numerous theatre credits including Geoffrey in Estate Agent (Firestation Windsor) and television work such as Harm Groespecker in Generation Sex (Princess TV).
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lewes
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
