2 weeks Ago
Actress Tina O’Brien – best recognised for her longstanding role as Sarah Platt on Coronation Street - has a very exciting second job stepping from in front of the camera to standing behind it as she nurtures the next generation of acting talent alongside her business partner and childhood friend, Esther Morgan. Tina and Esther grew up together before life took them on different journeys. Tina was cast in a number of acting roles as a child which ultimately led to her landing the iconic role of Sarah on the cobbles, while Esther’s passion for acting and teaching saw her go on to become a primary school teacher specialising in drama.
Together they launched The Drama MOB in 2013 after Tina’s search for high quality acting classes for her then three-year-old daughter Scarlett Thomas fell flat. Noticing a gap for the samequality classes she participated in as a child, Tina and Esther took matters into their own hands and their drama school was born. Starting with just seven students when they first launched to now having over 400 across a broad age range means that the co-founders now also employ a team of eight specialist teachers and operate three successful sites across Greater Manchester - Gatley, Didsbury and Prestwich - with a fourth location looking likely in the near future.
There is also acting agency representing their star students. As a result, Tina and Esther’s hard work and dedication has led to some incredible success stories with their students starring across a range of exciting award-winning television, film and stage productions. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Tina’s own daughter turned drama student Scarlett, went on to land the role of Izzy Charles on BBC’s Waterloo Road, a show that Tina herself also starred in in 2010.
Among their growing list of successes also includes Freddie Henderson featuring on the famous John Lewis Christmas advert as a young Elton John, Ryan Mulvey recently starring as JJ Osborne in Hollyoaks leading one of the shows biggest abuse storylines – and Maizie Wickson starring as a young Alma in BAFTA-winning Alma’s Not Normal. And their budding actors are also landing roles across major streaming platforms and feature film productions too. Tina said: “Never in a million years did I think that when Esther and I met for that coffee all those years ago to discuss possibly creating a drama school after struggling to find a good quality one for Scarlett, that we’d be in the position we are now 11 years down the line with students acting in huge productions and on the biggest streaming platforms around the world.
“What started out as us both wanting to create a place our own children could learn to perform has now become a home to over 400 students and growing. When we launched our first class, we went around pushing leaflets through people’s doors and genuinely had no idea if anybody would even turn up. “From those seven students in 2013, we now offer 26 classes per week – and to take a step back and look at how far we’ve come is a really fulfilling feeling.
” “I love working behind the scenes just as much as I enjoy my job as an actress in front of the camera. When it comes to the shows and productions I’m more like a crew member, I’m backstage with a radio herding our students getting everyone prepped and ready and making sure everything runs smoothly. (Image: Nativity play) “When one of our students lands a big audition I’m on hand to support them with their self-tapes, giving them advice and guidance on how to get the best out of their performance.
” “Even just watching them in the rehearsal room and performing in our own productions, like Nativity The Musical this month. I feel extremely proud as though they’re my own children because we’ve got to know them so well and work with them so closely.” (Image: Agency) S students are about to embark on their latest showcase with six performances of Nativity The Musical, at Manchester’s Contact Theatre on Saturday and Sunday with shows at 4pm and 7pm on Saturday and 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm on Sunday.
Details from contactmcr.com. For more information on The Drama Mob visit thedramamob.
com.
