Inside the Drama School That Talent Spotted Adolescence’s Owen Cooper
Warrington-born Adolescence star Owen Cooper has become a Hollywood sensation, securing both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award by the age of 16. His remarkable success story is now inspiring a fresh cohort of northern working-class youth, as revealed by his former drama teachers in an exclusive interview.
A Community Centre Transformed Into a Stage
On a chilly evening in Gatley, a quiet Stockport suburb, a community centre hums with creative energy. Underneath the glow of strip lights, teenagers are immersed in imaginary worlds—preparing for a moon landing, navigating a royal court, trekking through the Arctic, or screaming at a Taylor Swift concert. These vivid scenarios, though entirely fictional, come alive through the performers' conviction and enthusiasm.
"As soon as we step through the doors and put our phones down, time just stops here," one participant explains. "It's like a break from reality." This weeknight session is part of the offerings from Drama MOB, a Manchester-based drama school and talent agency founded by Esther Morgan and longtime Coronation Street actor Tina O'Brien.
The Owen Cooper Effect
Since its establishment in 2013, Drama MOB has operated steadily, but the past year has brought unprecedented attention thanks to the whirlwind ascent of one of their star pupils. Owen Cooper's role in Netflix's Adolescence marked his professional debut, though media narratives often suggested he was discovered overnight. In reality, Cooper spent two years training with Drama MOB before his breakthrough.
Morgan describes him as a "very focused" student who "was up for a laugh as well," while O'Brien emphasizes the crucial support from his parents. In January, the 16-year-old made history as the youngest ever winner of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television. During his acceptance speech, Cooper reflected on taking a risk with drama classes, initially feeling embarrassed as "the only boy there."
"We didn't think we'd end up with a Golden Globe Award or an Emmy winner," Morgan admits. "When he won the National Television Award first, we were really pleased—it was the first time anybody from our classes had achieved that."
Founding a Northern Institution
Morgan and O'Brien's friendship spans over three decades, beginning when they met at age 11. Their venture into drama education emerged from personal necessity. When O'Brien's daughter Scarlett was young, they struggled to find quality local drama groups. "Let's just set up our own," Morgan recalls deciding.
With O'Brien's acting experience from Coronation Street and Morgan's background teaching drama to primary school pupils, they launched their first class in Didsbury in January 2013, attracting seven children. Today, they run 29 classes across the region, with nearly 600 weekly attendees. Their casting agency, established in 2015, now represents about 300 performers from newborns to adults, responding to industry demand for "really good northern kids."
Breaking Down Barriers in Acting
Accessibility remains a core principle for Drama MOB. In an increasingly elitist profession, they actively combat the "class ceiling" that often sidelines talented young performers. "In each of our classes, we've got a number of places that are free," Morgan explains. "We don't want there to be a barrier."
O'Brien relates to the financial challenges, recalling her own childhood choice between drama and gymnastics due to limited funds. "For some children there's not even the possibility of that," she notes. Through funded placements, they target students who are passionate about acting but might otherwise be excluded.
The London-centric nature of the industry presents additional hurdles, with recalls often requiring costly travel. "We would still like to see more things being cast here," Morgan asserts, highlighting the financial burden on northern families.
Inspiring a New Generation of Boys
Since Adolescence aired, Drama MOB has witnessed a significant increase in boys enrolling for classes—a trend they attribute to the "Owen Cooper effect." Cooper's Golden Globes speech addressed lingering preconceptions that drama is "embarrassing" for boys, but in Gatley, the gender split among 12- and 13-year-olds is nearly equal.
"The classes are somewhere they can express themselves and feel safe to do so with other boys," Morgan observes. "We've seen a bigger uptake since Owen—other boys going, 'Oh actually, it's alright to do drama.'" For some, she adds, sport might not appeal, making drama a vital outlet for connection and self-expression.
O'Brien hopes to see more boys continue acting into their teenage years, countering the dropout trend that often occurs at high school age. She links this to broader societal discussions about masculinity, questioning whether young men are being conditioned to suppress emotions. In contrast, Drama MOB emphasizes emotional awareness: "Here, it's all about expressing—how does your character feel? How would you say that? And I think that's really healthy."
Future Ambitions and Northern Pride
Looking ahead, Morgan and O'Brien plan to expand into other northern areas, but cautiously. "Rather than just opening up all over the place, we want to make sure that it's still good quality," Morgan states. Their mission remains focused on "pushing our northern talent" and discovering future stars like Owen Cooper, all while ensuring students enjoy the process.
Reflecting on their journey, O'Brien shares, "I remember, years ago, we used to take all the classes, and whatever mood you were in, by the end of the evening you were just so happy because they were so happy. It's such a lovely thing to be part of."
