Each month we will spotlight a past performer sharing their career highlights, what they are up to now, and the exciting future projects we can look forward to.

To kick off this month, we are proud to highlight Mullingar’s own Mark Irwin, an accomplished artist with a long-standing connection to the local theatre scene. From performing in Mullingar Arts Centre productions to wowing audiences with his own solo shows, Mark has continued to maintain a strong connection with his hometown.

Long before he took the London stage by storm, Mark was a familiar face within Mullingar’s close-knit theatre community. He honed his craft through the Mullingar Arts Centre’s stage programmes, regularly appearing in home-grown musical productions, student theatre and local pantomimes. These early experiences helped shape the performer he would become, while establishing Mark as a much-loved favourite on his local stage.

A young Mark displayed his vocal talents locally through Mullingar Shamrocks GAA club where he won an All-Ireland medal in Scór na nÓg in 2006 as part of a title - winning ballad group. He also won the Feis Ceoil Tenor solo title in 2010 and following this milestone his classical profile grew rapidly leading to a high-profile booking later that same year as a tenor soloist at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. 

Before moving to London Mark spent a decade training in Ireland as a classical singer under Dervla Conlon. He then trained at the London School of Musical Theatre (LSMT) where he studied after earning the prestigious Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship. Immediately after graduating Mark played The Singer in The Caucasian Chalk Circle his very first professional gig right out of drama school. 

Just a few months later Mark took another giant step in his career when he joined the West End production of The Commitments at London’s Palace Theatre. Cast as an Ensemble/Swing, he became part of the production’s versatile ensemble while also taking on the demanding responsibility of being a swing. 

For those unfamiliar with the role a ‘swing’ is a performer who learns and rehearses multiple roles within a production, ready to step in and perform any role should another cast member be unavailable. This requires an extremely high level of preparation, concentration and versatility. A swing must know not only the lines and songs, but also the choreography, staging, movements and cues for each role they cover and be ready to step into any role at short notice. To add to all that responsibility, he also played the role of James and provided backing vocals and ensemble tracking for promotional recordings for the show. The Commitments marked another important milestone in Mark’s career, becoming his first West End production. His two-year run at London’s Palace Theatre provided a wealth of experience and helped establish him as a versatile and accomplished performer on the West End stage.

In 2016, Mark took on the demanding title role of Marco in the London production of Marco Polo An Untold Love Story at the Shaw Theatre. Because of the immense vocal and physical demands of the character, the role was split among different actors across the performances with Mark sharing the spotlight with David Bianco and Lawrence Olsworth-Peter. When he wasn’t starring as Marco, Mark demonstrated his range by also taking the stage as Antonello. This role highlighted Mark’s wide vocal range and led to him securing a lead soloist role with The 12 Tenors European and International Tour. His versatility as a performer became more apparent adding another layer to his ever-expanding vocal range while belting out hits by the likes of Queen and Michael Jackson during his time with The Tenors of Rock, The 3 Tenors and VOXX-West End Tenors. 

In 2019, Mark joined the cast of the hit global sensation The Choir of Man aboard Norwegian Cruise Line as The Romantic, a role that took him on extensive tours of the U.S. and Australia, including a sold-out performance at Sydney Opera House. He later travelled to South Korea to portray The Hardman. When the production launched its West End residency at London’s Arts Theatre Mark initially joined as a swing, proving his exceptional versatility by covering the roles of The Barman, The Romantic The Hardman, and The Joker. After four months, he transitioned into the full-time role of The Barman, eventually stepping up as Show Captain. Another highlight with the production included performing at West End Live.

In 2024, Mark played the role of Father Cornelius Ryan in a workshop production of The Wife of Michael Cleary at London’s The Other Palace, this musical was the recipient of the prestigious MTI Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award. 

Mark added yet another impressive credit to his growing portfolio when he joined the international tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats as a Walking Cover, traveling to major cities across China with the acclaimed production. Rather than playing a single character Mark was required to master vastly different choreography, harmonies, and character traits to step in for multiple characters and perform completely different roles. His vocal and physical adaptability and his experience as swing with the Choir of Man meant Mark was more than up to this demanding job. He took on the roles of Asparagus, Bustopher Jones, Rumpus Cat and Old Deuteronomy, the beloved patriarch and vocal focal point whose massive musical numbers are the anchor of the entire production's climax. 

Bringing his career full circle from his early community theatre days Mark recently made his professional pantomime debut starring as the title character in Robin Hood at The Capitol Theatre in Horsham. From February to June 2026 Mark toured as a premier vocalist with the Westend Tenors bringing powerhouse show tunes and movie blockbusters to stages across the UK. 

Additionally, Mark has been invited to join the cast of The Choir of Man in Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Friday 13th November. Where he will once again step into the role of The Barman for two shows and for one night only marking what may be the very last chance for audiences to see Mark perform in this role. 

Looking ahead, Mark has created his own solo show specifically tailored for luxury cruise lines and having recently secured his first headline bookings for 2027. Alongside his international maritime work, he looks forward to bringing his own solo production to audiences closer to home, with plans to return to town very soon. 

Mark stays true to his roots and hometown and maintains his deep lifelong connection to the Mullingar Arts Centre which served as his early creative launchpad and remains a regular stop on his professional tours. He frequently returns home to headline solo showcases like his Music for a Summer’s Night concerts and for high-profile charity gigs raising vital funds for local causes like the Mullingar Hospital MRI appeal and community health initiatives. He recently returned to Mullingar Arts Centre stage for a Special Benefit Night in aid of local man Stephen Coroon proving that no matter how hectic his touring schedule gets he always makes time for local worthy causes and local audiences. 

Mark’s theatrical journey has taken him from the stage of our very own Arts Centre to some of the world’s most renowned theatres and international venues. With the dedication of a true star, he has fearlessly embraced the challenges of every new production. Collaborating alongside international companies and world-class creative teams, each unique role has only served to enhance Mark’s innate talents. While his career continues to soar on the global stage, we hope his future journeys will bring him back to perform for us at home again soon. We eagerly look forward to seeing what the future holds for this remarkable performer and what exciting projects he takes on next.