Clive Rowe

Born in Oldham in 1964, Clive Rowe is an Olivier Award-winning actor, who has enjoyed a successful career on stage and screen. Perhaps best known on screen as Duke in The Story of Tracy Beaker, his theatre credits include Guys and Dolls, The Light Princess and numerous pantomines across the United Kingdom.

Growing up, Rowe expressed an interest in performing as a career. Taking part in productions at Crompton Stage Society, he then decided to pursue the arts professionally, later graduating from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Even in training, critics would praise his performance, hailing Rowe as a future star. Shortly after, Rowe made his professional stage debut as Enoch Snow in Carousel at the National, receiving an Olivier Award nomination.

In 1994, Rowe starred in the acclaimed West End premiere of Once on This Island, playing Papa Ge alongside Sharon D. Clarke and Lorna Brown. Returning to the National Theatre, he played Nicely Nicely Johnson in the 1997 revival of Guys and Dolls, winning an Olivier for Best Performance in a Supporting Role.

Away from the Southbank venue, Rowe’s West End credits include The Ladykillers at the Gielgud Theatre, Kiss Me, Kate at the Old Vic, and annual appearances as the Dame character at Hackney Empire pantomimes. In fact, Rowe’s been hailed as one of the UK’s best pantomime dames of all time. Rowe then joined the cast of The Prince of Egypt as Jethro, taking over the role from Gary Wilmot. He then starred in Sister Act with Jennifer Saunders, and will return to panto with Jack at the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire in winter 2022.