On a chilly January evening in a community centre in Gatley, Stockport, a group of teenagers are immersed in imaginary scenarios—from a moon landing to a Taylor Swift concert. This is a typical session at Drama MOB, the Manchester drama school and talent agency co-founded by Esther Morgan and Coronation Street actress Tina O'Brien. Since 2013, the school has grown from seven children in a Didsbury class to 29 classes across the region, with nearly 600 weekly attendees.
The school's profile has soared following the success of Owen Cooper, a 16-year-old from Warrington who played Jamie in Netflix's acclaimed single-shot drama Adolescence. Cooper, who had no prior professional experience, attended Drama MOB classes for two years before his casting. His performance earned him historic wins as the youngest ever recipient of the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor on Television, the SAG Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, and the Bafta TV Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Morgan describes Cooper as a "very focused" pupil who "was up for a laugh as well." O'Brien highlights the importance of his parents' support. In his Golden Globe acceptance speech, Cooper recalled taking a "risk" on the classes, noting he was "the only boy there" but "got through it." Morgan laughed, saying they never expected to end up with a Golden Globe winner, having been pleased enough with his National Television Award win last September.
Morgan and O'Brien have been friends since meeting at age 11. When O'Brien's daughter was young, they struggled to find quality local drama groups, so they decided to start their own. O'Brien has played Sarah Louise Platt on Coronation Street since 1999, while Morgan previously taught drama to primary pupils. Their casting agency, launched in 2015, now handles requests for young talent.
