Background[edit]
Lark was born in Roath, Cardiff to Bev and Billy Lark, and began performing at an early age. When she was twelve years old she played the lead role in the Starstruck Theatre production of musical, Annie at St Peter's Church Hall in Roath alongside Charlotte Church, who took the role of Molly.[2] She appeared in the television series The Biz and The Healer[3] and appeared in the original performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Whistle Down The Wind at the Sydmonton Festival held at Lloyd Webber's country house, Sydmonton Court in 1995 as part of the ensemble.[1][4]
In 2000 Lark made her West End debut creating the role of "Little Girl" in Cameron Mackintosh's production of The Witches of Eastwick at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.[5] In 2003 she played John Barrowman's daughter in the musical, Beautiful and Damned at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey.[1]
After appearing as Lucy in a production of Snoopy!!! The Musical at the Jermyn Street Theatre in 2003, Lark undertook a Post-Graduate course in Musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music.[4] Here in 2004 she played the roles of Julie in Victoria Wood's play Talent and also Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream.[3] She graduated with a distinction and then went on to reprise her role in Snoopy!!! at The New Players' Theatre in 2004. In 2005 she joined the musical Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre, as cover for the roles of Lisa and Sophie.[1][3]
She stayed in Mamma Mia! for two years before making her first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2007, performing in C Theatre's productions of Cinderella, in the title role and the annual Shakespeare For Breakfast, as Juliet's nurse.[3] The latter making a successful transfer to the Canal Cafe Theatre in Little Venice, London.
I'd Do Anything[edit]
Lark was a finalist on I'd Do Anything on BBC One from March to May 2008, a show which searched for a new, unknown lead to play Nancy in a West End revival of the British musical Oliver!. She was eliminated in show six on 4 May.
Immediately after the show Lark participated in the I'd Do Anything tours with fellow contestants Ashley Russell, Keisha Amponsa-Banson and Niamh Perry, along with Michael French and Connie Fisher, accompanied by the BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.