Theatre Co-op and Fifth Estate Theatre Company In 1986 he formed the Theatre Co-op with Patrick Evans. This enabled Sharpe to express his creative talent and work outwith the mainstream, where he thrived. Sharpe's Herald Scotland obituary described the play as follows: "The Burgher's Tale is a biting political and social satire inspired by his study of commedia del arte. He explores art's relationship with politics and the state and his conviction that art, in the fullness of its definition, represents the only potential salvation for an increasingly fractured and divisive world". The company was based at the Netherbow Theatre in Edinburgh from 1990 until 1996. Sharpe also served a term as Chairman of the
Scottish Society of Playwrights. In the same year they produced
We, Charles XII by Bernard Da Costa, which Sharpe also translated and adapted. In 1993 Sharpe had critical success with
The Last of the Lairds, adapted from the novel by
John Galt. The play went on to have three further productions. Once again the play received good reviews. In 1995 the company produced
Playing Sarajevo, receiving mixed reviews. ''Heart's Delight'' has yet to be produced. In November 1988, he appeared in the
Royal Lyceum Theatre Company's adaptation of
William Shakespeare's,
As you like it, in Edinburgh. Sharpe also appeared in
The Weavers, a co-production between the
Tramway Theatre in Glasgow and the
Dundee Repertory Theatre, performed in both cities. In April 1998 he had a role in
The Mill Lavvies, also performed by The Dundee Repertory Theatre. In September 1998, Sharpe performed in a
BBC Radio 4 play called
The Hydro and in September 2000 a radio adaptation of
Joseph Conrad's,
Falk.
Film and television In 1990 Sharpe had a small role in the Scottish detective series,
Taggart, the first of four episodes he would appear in over ten years. In 1992 he had roles in two UK TV series;
The Good Guys and
Crime Story. The following year Sharpe had a role in
Strathblair and in 1994
The Tales of Para Handy. In 1995 he appeared in
Doctor Finlay and the film,
The Near Room which was
James McAvoy's acting debut aged fifteen. Sharpe's next role was in ''
The Witch's Daughter and later in 1996 he appeared in Tartan Shorts:The Star
, broadcast by BBC Scotland and written by John Milarky. In 2001 he had a small role in the Monarch of the Glen. His final acting role was in the 2002 film The Magdalene Sisters''. Sharpe died in 2004 from
motor neuron disease. ==Works==