Mark Hadlow ONZM

Mark Hadlow, ONZM, is one of New Zealand's best-known actors. He has performed in countless theatre shows, dozens of film appearances, television series, commercials and radio voice-overs in the thousands. He has directed theatre, opera, and film throughout New Zealand. 

Playing the dwarf Dori in The Hobbit Trilogy, was Mark's third Peter Jackson movie. In Meet the Feebles he voiced Heidi the Hippo and Robert the Hedgehog, and sang many of the films songs. King Kong saw him rehearsing and performing opposite Naomi Watts and Bill Johnson. In Mortal Engines playing the standout character, Stigwood, the auctioneer. 

He appeared alongside New Zealand comedian, Billy T James in The Billy T James Show - a 26 episode sitcom.

He has sung in many Musical Theatre productions including Little Shop of Horrors (3 productions), My Fair Lady, Mr Cinders, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Kiss me Kate, Sweeney Todd, Rocky Horror Show, and a highlight Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with the amazing John English.

Mark has won and been nominated for several awards, including Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy Series for Willy Nilly, playing the role of the challenged brother Harry in the three-season, top-rating sitcom. He won Best Theatrical Performance of the Year in 1993 for the hugely successful one-man show SNAG, and ultimately went on to win Entertainer of the Year in 1995. He won Best Character Voice Over Artist in the 2010 New Zealand Radio Awards.

Mark has worked for Queensland Theatre Company performing Pirelli the barber in Sweeney Todd and performed SNAG at the Adelaide Arts Festival and the Edinburgh Festival. 

MAMIL written by Gregory Cooper opened in 2014 and has since numbered over 330 performances to over 70,000 people throughout NZ. Currently he is about to open the sequel to MAMIL, GOMIL (Grumpy old Man in Lycra), also written by Gregory Cooper. 

In March 2018 he completed a co-lead role with Jed Brophy in Stef Harris's thriller film Blue Moon filmed in Motueka. It was selected to play at Cannes in 2021 and the film won many awards at film festivals internationally, the latest best film at the Spanish Cinephone Festival 2020.

He won best actor for Blue Moon in the IPAAF awards in Italy in 2024. He was awarded an ONZM in 2018 for services to entertainment

He delivered the role of a South African kick boxing coach in the Shane Rangi short film Die Like a Shark and won a best supporting actor award. 

2019 at The Court Theatre in Christchurch, Mark had the opportunity to deliver the lead roles in Elling and The Father.

The Auckland Theatre Company world premiere of Sir Roger Halls play Winding Up – completed a very successful season at ASB Waterfront Theatre and a tour to Hamilton, Hastings and post Covid Tauranga, New Plymouth, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch at The Court Theatre a four week season. 

Post Covid, MAMIL was remounted and saw a great response from the theatre going public. MAMIL has completed 338 performances and approximately 70,000 people saw the show. 

Mark is Artistic Director of the newest regional professional theatre company in New Zealand, The Professional Theatre Company, Whakatū, Nelson. The first commissioned production written by Gregory Cooper was Mr and Mrs Macbeth of Dodson Valley Road with Mark and Lara Macgregor in the two hander lead roles. The play was included in The Court Theatre 2024 season, and projected seasons at Centrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North and Hastings in the beautiful refurbished Toi Toi Theatre in 2025. 

GOMIL, the sequel to MAMIL, opened very well in Ōtautahi Christchurch at the Isaac Theatre Royal on the 10th February 2025.