Clive Mantle inspires English and Drama Students

We were delighted to welcome actor and author Clive Mantle to The Chase, whilst he was performing in Peter James’ ‘Wish You Were Dead’ at Malvern Theatres.

Clive is best known for playing ‘Little John’ in the 1980’s series ‘Robin of Sherwood’, Dr Mike Barratt in BBC One’s ‘Casualty’ and Lord Greatjon Umber in ‘Game of Thrones’. 

Clive hosted English workshops with groups of Years 7 and 8 students, talking about his exciting Freddie Malone Adventure book series for children, discussing the writing and publishing process and encouraging students’ own writing, describing some of his own adventures (including climbing Everest) and signing copies of his books for students at breaktime.

Ms Baynam, Librarian said: “It was truly an honour and pleasure to welcome Clive Mantle to The Chase library. After fifty years in the industry, the man is a living legend! Listening to him speak about his acting and writing career was fascinating and inspiring. He was engaging and accommodating, taking the time to listen to each child, sign books and take pictures with the students and staff.”

Megan Silver, a Year 8 student said: “[Clive Mantle] told us about his books and some theatre stuff and told us about the people who climbed Everest in 1922 which was really interesting…I enjoyed it and I thought his inspirations were really cool. I also found it amazing that he had to research so much about the times where his books were set.”

Harry Nguyen, a Year 8 student said: “[Clive Mantle’s] description of the books were so good and it got me interested. Now I have to read them!” And Harry did, in fact, borrow one of the books which are now stocked in The Chase library.

Clive then gave an inspiring talk to Year 10 drama students about his journey into acting, stressing that you need an incredible amount of luck to succeed and to get experience it’s vital to do as much amateur dramatics and youth theatre as possible.

Clive’s top tips for a career in acting are:

• Get involved with your school plays, either on stage or backstage
• Test the water with a youth theatre to discover if acting is what you want to do
• Audition for the National Youth Theatre (this was the foundation for Clive and opened up lots of opportunities)
• Learn your lines, and turn up on time!
• Learn how to present yourself, the way you walk into a room is key
• Networking – get yourself known by asking the right questions in a subtle way
• Have persistence and dedication
• Consider going to university as they have fantastic drama departments
• Your vocation as an actor will have to turn into a business to succeed
• Get a good agent
• Always have a back up plan!

Mrs Greaves, Subject Leader Drama added: ‘What a thoroughly entertaining and inspiring 50 minutes Q&A session Clive gave us this week. Jam-packed with anecdotes, advice, and experience from his first steps on the stage in The National Youth Theatre at 17, through his fifty fabulous years in the business and culminating in his recent ‘voice over’ work and novel writing during lockdown. My Year 10 GCSE Drama students were captivated by his tales of working on his first big break on TV in Robin of Sherwood, (he is still friends with the cast!) and then in more recent years his experiences on tv/film sets such as Casualty, Holby City and with Dawn French on The Vicar of Dibley. A very entertaining man!”