Mark started his professional career in the Arts on the hugely successful Tweenies Live! international Arena tours. Since then Mark's career has taken him all over the world. From Bangsar Theatre in Malaysia, to Pavilhão Atlântico Arena in Lisbon, to Ductac Theatre in Dubai, to Wembley Stadium in London (to name a few!) Mark has been involved in hundreds of productions and events of various scales worldwide to audiences across multi languages and cultures to millions of people.
From the international arena tours of Bob the Builder Live!, Noddy Live!, Balamory Live!, Ruca Live! and Thomas & Friends Live! To the theatre tours of Milkshake Live!, Cartoon Network Live!, Dr Bunhead's Recipes for Disaster and Steptoe and Son (to name but a few more!).
Mark spent over 13 years as Executive Producer and General Manager of two of the UK's leading entertainment companies specialising in family entertainment.
In addition to producing a number of family shows, Mark has also acted as Regional General Manager for a large theatre group, overseeing 3 regional theatres in the South West with a combined capacity of nearly 1900 seats and full P&L responsibilities. Mark managed the venues which hosted some of the biggest touring shows from one night performances to international world renowned artists to West End musicals. Under Mark’s leadership one theatre increased its turnover by 43% in 24 months!
Mark has also produced a number of Pantomimes such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and Aladdin with stars such as Shane Lynch, Joe Swash, John Altman, John Challis, Dean Gaffney and Linda Lusardi.
Creatively Mark has written and directed a number of touring productions for third party producers such as Guinness World Records Officially Amazing Science Live, Brainiac Live, Science Museum Live – The Highlights Show, BBC Hidden World Live and Guinness World Records Science to name a few.
In addition Mark acted as Creative Producer for the main stage at the Big Bang Fair for over 5 years on behalf of a third party producer and Engineering UK. Mark oversaw the creative and technical delivery of the content on the main stage and also developed the entertainment elements at the events awards ceremony.
STEM development remains at the very core of Mark’s passion and he’s regularly invited to create content for Museums, Institutes and Organisations around the world from London’s Science Museum to Saudi Arabia’s Mishkat Centre for Renewable Energy to the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Mark remains proud of his work with London’s Science Museum. In 2012 Mark was asked to write and direct the national theatre tour of Science Museum Live which, was a live production built around the educational core key stages and looked at the science of industry. The show developed a series of chemical and gas based demonstrations while on stage. The tour went on to play 80 theatres around the UK to 5 star reviews and was highly commended with the Educational Award.
Mark then set up Mark Thompson Productions Limited to consolidate his work and has gone on to create the international touring production of Ministry of Science Live and work with local councils, corporate clients, brand owners, producers and promoters worldwide as well as continue his love of taking well known children’s brands from screen and book to stage.
You can find out more about our journey in Family and STEM entertainment including all the amazing worldwide clients under About Us and Our History.