OE INTERVIEW
Interview with Patti Clare In December 2021 Old Eastbournian, Patti Clare came to the college to watch the school’s production of ‘Les Miserables’. Before she watched the fantastic performance, she sat down for an interview about her time at Eastbourne in the early 90s and her experience as both a stage actress and a TV actress. Most famously she has stared as “Mary Taylor” on Coronation Street since 2008 and is a three-time winner of the British Soap Award for Best Comedy Performance!
Which A levels did you take? I did English literature, history, and classical civilisation. The stuff I learnt in classical civilisation actually helped me so much in my acting Do you have any advice for aspiring actors who are currently at the college?
I would think very carefully because the business has changed with covid. The old fashioned route of repertory theatre’s aren’t as much there for younger actors but having said that there aren’t any rules anHi, Patti. Which house were you in? ymore! There’s never been a magic formula on how Nugent. So, when I came it was only the sixth form one becomes an actor and progresses through. I that was mixed. The rest of the school was just boys, would say get your exams and if you want to go on so we were like these exotic strange creatures, and to further education then do that because there’s we all stayed in one house and that was Nugent. But plenty of time unless you’re absolutely burning with it was split into two, there was the main house and almost vocational zeal! But even then, I would then there was a house on the other side where the strongly recommend getting your education out of day girls tended to be. That was the house to try to the way because it is a long journey. get into because (I shouldn’t say this!) you could sneak out because our housemaster was on the other side of the house!! What is the role that you’re most proud of? Boy, that’s a really good question. I think in terms Do you have any lasting memories of Eastbourne? of theatre it was a role up at the citizens theatre in Glasgow. I worked there from the age of 18 to 36, so I do, I loved my time here. I’d come from a convent, many years. It would be a role I did for them in a so it was a huge change. The sense of space and freedom and how we were treated as an adult and a human being. Especially as a female you were absolutely equal to everyone in the school. The freedom of being able to go out in the afternoon is what I loved most though. You couldn’t keep me in! I loved going to the beach. On top of that my education and the help from my teachers. Eastbourne was just a wonderful, wonderful school, for me anyway. 12
