Hartlepool boy lands leading role in London show

A Hartlepool youngster is thrilled after landing a leading role in a London show.
Daniel Cooper is heading to Her Majesty's Theatre London with PQA Tees Valley Academy.Daniel Cooper is heading to Her Majesty's Theatre London with PQA Tees Valley Academy.
Daniel Cooper is heading to Her Majesty's Theatre London with PQA Tees Valley Academy.

Eleven-year-old Daniel Cooper is gearing up to play the part of Chip Buddy in theatre show The Lazy Ace, which he will perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre, in London, on October 2.

The production, from The Pauline Quirke Academy in Tees Valley, will see Daniel, from Sedgewick Close, take on the role of a 1950’s Las Vegas cop who is on a mission to a stop card shark known as The Lazy Ace.

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The Year 7 pupil at St Hild’s Church of England school, said he was “buzzing” after securing the role after his audition at the academy on March 12.

“Acting is something I want to do as a career, so I was buzzing when I got the part,” he said.

“I didn’t know I was going to get it, so I am thrilled.

“The rehearsals are going amazing and I am looking forward to the show at the end of the year.”

In the musical, Daniel will have to put on an American accent and sing a variety of songs, including the famous Elvis tune Jailhouse Rock.

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Mum Shirley Cooper, 45, said she was extremely proud of her son, which will see him travel down to London with the academy for the one-off show.

She said: “The academy puts on a production every year or so to see how they cope on the West End.

“When he had the audition at the academy, he didn’t think he would get it.

“Daniel has already performed at the Middlesbrough Theatre with the PQA and now he will open the show at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

“The show gets them out there.”

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Daniel is also starting to make links with industry greats after being introduced to The Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson, through family friend BBC Tees presenter Paul Gough.

The youngster also has weekly singing lessons at Mick Donnelly’s Academy of Music to further his skills.

Shirley added: “Mick is going to put Daniel through exams, as this is what he wants to do as a career.”