{{short description|British actress}} {{For|the German author who uses the pen name Sarah Lark|Christiane Gohl}} {{Use British English|date=September 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Sarah Lark | image = | image_size = 150px | caption = Sarah performing on I'd Do Anything | birth_name = Sarah Lark | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1983|1|28}} | birth_place = Roath, Cardiff, Wales | other_names = Sarah de la Bédoyère | occupation = Actress, singer | years_active = 1995–present | spouse = Hugh de la Bédoyère | children = Nell de la Bédoyère (born 2016), James de la Bédoyère (born 2020) | awards = | website = }}
'''Sarah Lark''' (born 28 January 1983) is a Welsh singer and actress who rose to fame when she competed as one of the finalists in the BBC talent show-themed television series ''I'd Do Anything'' in 2008.<ref name="bbc-sarah">{{cite news | title = Nancy Contestants – Sarah | publisher = BBC | date =6 February 2008 | url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/contestants/nancy/sarah.shtml | access-date =9 May 2008 }}</ref>
==Background== 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.<ref name="wales080326">{{cite news | title = Nancy Contestants – Sarah | date =26 March 2008 | url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/videos-and-pics/2008/03/26/songbirds-charlotte-church-and-sarah-lark-91466-20678225/ | accessdate =10 October 2008 }}</ref> She appeared in the television series ''The Biz'' and ''The Healer''<ref name="spotlight-lark">{{cite news | title = Sarah Lark | publisher = The Spotlight | url = http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/5315-7862-4453 | accessdate = 10 October 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bbc-sarah"/><ref name="stage0803">{{cite news | last = Matthewman | first = Scott | title = I'd Do Anything: Meet the Nancies | work = The Stage | date = 25 March 2008 | url = http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2008/03/id-do-anything-meet-the-nancies | accessdate = 11 September 2008 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080920052416/http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2008/03/id-do-anything-meet-the-nancies/ | archivedate = 20 September 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
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.<ref name="aboutmaria-woe">{{cite web | title = Witches of Eastwick | publisher = About Maria – The Maria Freedman website | url = http://www.aboutmaria.com/witchesofeastwick.html | accessdate = 21 August 2008}}</ref> In 2003 she played John Barrowman's daughter in the musical, ''Beautiful and Damned'' at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey.<ref name="bbc-sarah"/>
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.<ref name="stage0803"/> Here in 2004 she played the roles of Julie in Victoria Wood's play ''Talent'' and also Hermia in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.<ref name="spotlight-lark"/> She graduated with a distinction{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} 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.<ref name="bbc-sarah"/><ref name="spotlight-lark"/>
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.<ref name="spotlight-lark"/> The latter making a successful transfer to the Canal Cafe Theatre in Little Venice, London.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}
==''I'd Do Anything''== 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.
==Further career==
After participating in a workshop production at the Menier Chocolate Factory in the London Borough of Southwark, Lark performed as Collette in Conor Mitchell's ''Mathilde'' at the 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Festival, directed by Simon Callow.<ref name="spotlight-lark"/><ref name="edcomfest663">{{cite news | title=Mathilde by Conor Mitchell | publisher=Edinburgh Comedy Festival | url=http://www.edcomfest.com/tellMeMore.aspx?show=663 | accessdate=24 August 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In September 2008 she performed as the lead female vocalist in the show ''Hits of the West End'' at the Hamilton Townhouse, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.<ref name="advertiser21353743">{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Lesley | title= West End comes to town in autumn | work=Hamilton Advertiser | url=http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/lifestyle/ml3-entertainment/2008/07/17/west-end-comes-to-town-in-autumn-51525-21353743/ | accessdate=24 August 2008}}</ref>
<ref name="playbill122868">{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122868.html|title=Carroll and Lark Join Company of London Oliver! Revival; Casting Now Complete|last=Shenton|first=Mark|date=30 October 2008|work=Playbill|accessdate=31 October 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102043541/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122868.html|archivedate=2 November 2008}}</ref> On 14 October, she appeared in a one-off charity performance of the musical comedy ''Betwixt!'' at the Ambassadors Theatre in Covent Garden, London.<ref name="spotlight-lark"/><ref name="ck">{{cite web | title= Actresses | publisher=Cole Kitchenn | url= http://www.colekitchenn.com/pm-actresses.htm | accessdate=5 October 2008}}</ref> On 9 November 2008 she performed a solo cabaret act ''An afternoon with Sarah Lark'', at Lauderdale House in Waterlow Park, Highgate in north London.<ref name="stage34198">{{cite web|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/listings/production.php/34198/cabaret-in-the-house-sarah-lark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612030020/http://www.thestage.co.uk/listings/production.php/34198/cabaret-in-the-house-sarah-lark|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2011|title=Cabaret in the House – Sarah Lark|date=9 November 2008|work=The Stage|accessdate=11 November 2008}}</ref>
In February 2009, Lark performed at the 2009 Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Award at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.<ref name="wso784">{{cite news|url=http://awards.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=784|title=2009 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards Concert|publisher=Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Award |accessdate=13 March 2009}}</ref> She sang "9 to 5" with fellow ''I'd do Anything'' contestant Samantha Barks and ''X-Factor'' finalist Niki Evans, then the title track from the Broadway musical ''Xanadu''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
In November 2009, Lark performed at an all-star concert celebrating the work of young British composer Michael Bruce at the Apollo Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831251737944/All-Star+Concerts+of+Michael+Bruce+%26+Lance+Horne.html |publisher=WhatsOnStage |accessdate=28 May 2014 |title=All-Star Concerts of Michael Bruce & Lance Horne - - News - Whatsonstage.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320055316/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831251737944/All-Star+Concerts+of+Michael+Bruce+%26+Lance+Horne.html |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other performers to feature in the concert included West End Stars Julie Atherton, Paul Spicer and Leanne Jones, ''Eurovision: Your Country Needs You'' finalist Mark Evans, Any Dream Will Do finalist Daniel Boys, and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? finalist Helena Blackman.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
Also in 2009, Lark recorded the lead role of Roberta Jones in Gareth Peter Dicks' musical ''Bluebird'', a Second World War musical concept recording that also starred Ramin Karimloo and Abi Finley.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
===''Oliver!''=== After appearing on ''I'd do Anything'' Lark's next major show was as the Strawberry seller in Cameron Mackintosh's revival production of ''Oliver!'' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. She understudied the part of Nancy, performing it on a few occasions during the absence of winner Jodie Prenger, performing opposite Rowan Atkinson, Omid Djalili and Griff Rhys Jones as Fagin, and Burn Gorman and Steven Hartley as Bill Sykes. Lark departed the cast on 27 March 2010 after performing in the production for 14 months.
===''Pantomime''===
Lark has appeared twice as Snow White in Pantomimes for UK Productions.<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Vale |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/34475/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052506/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/34475/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 May 2014 |title=The Stage Reviews – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs |work=The Stage |date=5 December 2011 |accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref> She has also appeared as Fairy Formidable in Beauty and the Beast.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sue Holderness and S Club 7's Tina Barrett look forward to Chatham's pantos at the Central Theatre and the Britannia Theatre|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/panto-is-a-beauty-says-47546/|website=Kent Online|date=8 December 2015|accessdate=12 January 2017}}</ref>
===''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''===
Lark played the lead role of Miss Mona in a major revival of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Union Theatre, London.
===''What the World Needs Now – The Music of Burt Bacharach''===
In February 2012, Lark appeared as a special guest vocalist at a Valentine's Day concert of the music of Burt Bacharach, alongside Cat Simmons and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/the-music-of-burt-bacharach/ |title=The Music of Burt Bacharach at Cadogan Hall |publisher=Cadoganhall.com |date=14 February 2012 |accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref> The concert programme was recorded as an album with the RPO and performed several more times around the UK,<ref>{{cite web|title=Concert Diary|url=http://grbconcerts.com/concert-diary/|website=GRB Concerts|accessdate=12 January 2017}}</ref> including a special performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra for BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night broadcast live from the Mermaid Theatre in London, presented by Paul Gambaccini.<ref>{{cite web|title=Friday Night is Music Night|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039cxh8|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>
===''Les Misérables''===
From June 2012 to July 2015, Lark appeared in the musical ''Les Misérables'' at the Queen's Theatre in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonmusicalsonline.com/production.php?ProdID=LM |publisher=londonmusicalsONLINE |accessdate=28 May 2014|title=LondonmusicalsONLINE }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lesmis.com/cast-and-creatives/cast/ensemble/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005012356/http://www.lesmis.com/cast-and-creatives/cast/ensemble/|date=5 October 2012}}</ref>
She returned to the production in 2017 and remained with the show until its final performance at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday 13 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/les-miserables-announces-new-cast|title=Les Misérables announces new cast|last=Limited|first=London Theatre Direct|date=8 May 2018|website=londontheatredirect.com|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
She performed as part of a special concert performance of the musical featuring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Carrie Hope Fletcher at the Gielgud Theatre in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/full-cast-set-for-west-ends-les-miserables-concert-starring-michael-ball-carrie-hope-fletcher-and-alfie-boe|title=Full Cast Set for West End's Les Misérables Concert Starring Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and Alfie Boe|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=19 July 2019|website=Playbill|accessdate=22 July 2019}}</ref>
She opened the new production of ''Les Misérables'' at the newly refurbished and renamed Sondheim Theatre in 2019 as the show’s Dance Captain.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ltd|first=Cameron Mackintosh|title=Les Misérables {{!}} Welcome to the Official Website|url=https://www.lesmis.com/london/cast-creatives/sarah-lark|access-date=2020-11-01|website=www.lesmis.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Discography== *''The Witches of Eastwick'' – Original cast recording, as Little Girl (2000). *''Oliver!'' – Live cast recording, as Strawberry Seller (2009). *''Bluebird [http://www.garethpeterdicks.co.uk]'' – Original concept cast recording, as Roberta (2009). *''Les Miserables - the staged concert'' (2019)
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=2977689|name=Sarah Lark}} *[http://wooller.com/?page=11034 Photographs of Lark as Nancy]
{{Andrew Lloyd Webber musical revival search}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lark, Sarah}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Welsh child actresses Category:Actresses from Cardiff Category:21st-century Welsh women singers Category:Welsh musical theatre actresses