Making History Series | mgs.org
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ROBERT POWELL
MGS 1955-1963
You are greeted at the Powell household by a warm handshake and dogs racing around your feet. Robert lives in a three hundred-year-old converted farm cottage on the edge of Hampstead Heath, a few miles from the theatres of the West End and a world away from his upbringing in Salford. Robert came from an MGS family. His father, uncle and brother attended the School, and so it was almost assumed in his family that he would follow suit.
nomination. Many more films followed and also The Detectives, with Jasper Carrott. More recently, he has been known for his role as Mark Williams in Holby City, a part he played for six years.
After deciding against a career in law, Robert became an actor. Several repertory theatres later, he got his break in television, and went on to star in many films, TV series and plays. In 1975 he landed the leading role in the film Jesus of Nazareth, alongside a star-studded cast, for which he received a BAFTA
Were there any teachers who made a difference to you personally? “Brian Phythian had the greatest influence on my life at MGS. Although I was never taught by him I would go so far as to say
that he inspired me to take to the stage, and I know that Nick Hytner feels the same way too. Brian was inspirational in and out of the classroom. A dynamic Head of English, he led a sparkling department by example. He founded the School newspaper (The Mancunian), the MGS Brass Band and camped at Borrowdale. Most of all, he was a key director in a golden age of DramSoc.