From QMU to Craiglang
Actors Jane McCarry and Mark Cox reminisce about student life at Queen Margaret College and their years starring in two of Scotland ’ s best loved TV comedies , ‘ Chewing the Fat ’ and ‘ Still Game ’.
Interview by Thomas Kelly , QMU ’ s Head of Development and Alumni .
It ’ s a November Monday morning . Jane and Mark should be preparing for an evening show of their new stage show ‘ Still Gaun ’, but this has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic . Instead , they are at their respective homes in Glasgow , joining a Zoom call to talk all things QMU ( or QMC as it was when they studied there ). “ Mark , I was going to phone you , but I ’ ll just tell you both since you ’ re here ,” says Jane , as she recounts a hilarious story from the previous day . It ’ s just like watching an episode of ‘ Still Game ’, Isa is in full swing and Tam can ’ t get a word in edgeways . They ’ re both roaring with laughter by the end and it ’ s apparent how good friends Jane and Mark have become . “ We knew each other at QMC , but we didn ’ t really become good friends until after ,” Jane tells me . “ We kept getting cast together and our paths kept crossing but it wasn ’ t until our late 20 ’ s that we started becoming closer friends ,” adds Mark . Starting at the beginning - Youth Theatre and ushering at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow saw Mark ’ s interest in drama grow . We talk about how his careers advisor at school completely ignored his desire to go to drama college , and instead , encouraged him to apply for an apprenticeship .
“ Work always felt like a stopgap rather than a career . The family wasn ’ t very keen on me giving up an apprenticeship to go to drama school , but I eventually got their support to go and do it . Lots of people don ’ t get the opportunity to go and do what they really want to do . That ’ s always been very important to me , that I got the chance ,” said Mark . Jane ’ s journey to QMC was a little different – first appearing in several shows at Glasgow Arts Centre ( GAC ) and then completing a one-year drama course at Clydebank College . She recalls how Robin Wilson ( then Director at GAC , now lecturer at QMU ) helped her prepare her audition pieces . Both had the real feeling that Queen Margaret was different and a ‘ bit more them ’. Mark goes on to say : “ QMC suited us perfectly . We are theatricals but we ’ re grounded . We ’ ve got families , dugs and cats and everything else . QMC felt like home .” And right on cue , Mark nips away for a few seconds to let his new kittens back into the house . Reminiscing about their fondest memories , both Jane and Mark express their love for Bert Bracewell . “ Bert was the fencing and stage-fighting teacher and an absolute legend . He was one of my favourite people in the world . Wee Bert – I just loved him .”
Image courtesy of BBC Studios Scotland ( Characters Tam & Isa from ' Still Game ')
“ Lots of people don ’ t get the opportunity to go and do what they really want to do . That ’ s always been very important to me , that I got the chance .” Mark
32 QMYOU / Celebrating 50 Years of Drama