Former Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi from 1982-85 and founder of commercials film company Stark Films, Jeffrey Stark is leaving his beige cardigan in London and heading to Edinburgh to make his Fringe debut at 81 years old.
After abjectly failing at his Stirling High School, Jeff Stark stumbled into advertising as Assistant Advertising Manager at Currys. Going on to work as a copywriter in a series of small agencies he was soon spotted by the newly formed Saatchi & Saatchi in 1976 and after six years of award winning work he left to form the Hedger Mitchell Stark agency. While there, he won awards for campaigns with Irn Bru, Fosters Lager (the Paul Hogan series) and British Rail.
Two hugely successful years later he sold the agency to Saatchi & Saatchi and returned there as Creative Director. Following another three years at Saatchi’s in London and New York, Jeff retired from advertising altogether to fulfil his lifelong ambition of sailing his small yacht around the world. Half way around, in Tonga, he got bored and promptly retired from sailing, returning to London in 1990 to fulfil his other lifelong ambition of directing commercials. Forming Stark Films in 1991 he quickly went on to win awards for work with British Airways, RSPCA, Walls, Impulse and Adidas. He established himself as one of the UK’s most respected directors working with people such as Helen Mirren, Joan Collins, Terrence Stamp, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, Ronnie Barker, Graham Norton, Jahn Hannah and Malcolm McLaren.
His first tentative move outside the advertising arena, the short film ‘Desserts’ starring Ewan McGregor, was selected for the Sundance Film Festival as well as winning a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
Following retirement at 72 Jeffrey’s phone stopped ringing and he realized he had to do something or watch Cash In The Attic all day wearing that beige cardigan. Four years ago he started doing open mic spots at his local Putney pub, winning on a regular basis.
Stark says “I am fully continent, but concerned that I might shit myself on 12th August. However, if I don’t do this now while I have my marbles I might never get around to performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and fulfilling my third ambition to win this year’s Best Newcomer at the Comedy Awards”
LISTING INFORMATION:
Dates: 12th – 24th August (not 18th)
Time: 20.55 (1 Hour)
Venue: Greenside@GeorgeStreet
Tickets here.
Picture: Nick Dale
