The remarkable achievement of the show Adolescence has spotlighted its young cast, transformed from obscurity to fame overnight. But the once-unknown actors’ success, highlighted by an abundance of headlines proclaiming their meteoric rise from nowhere, overlooks the foundational work by regional drama schools that nurtured their talents.

To source fresh talent for the series, Adolescence’s casting director, Shaheen Baig, sought out the hidden gems in two Northern drama schools renowned for working with children from underprivileged and diverse communities.

Baig took to Instagram recently, giving a shoutout to The Drama MOB and Articulate Drama School and Agency, commending the unsung efforts of drama teachers across the country who work tirelessly with meager financial support and recognition.

However, reporting Owen Cooper’s breakthrough role in the show as someone who had “done nothing and came from nowhere” irked The Drama MOB’s co-founder, Esther Morgan. The truth, she asserts, is that Cooper had been a dedicated drama student at The Drama MOB in Manchester, participating in professional theater productions. His journey was anything but a chance discovery.

This emphasizes a longstanding critique of the London-centric nature of performing arts, with the north often underfunded and overlooked as a breeding ground for creative talent.

Since its inception in 2013, The Drama MOB has trained over 500 children weekly in Manchester, offering fully funded places to those who cannot afford them and running free workshops for local primary schools.

Morgan recounts that Baig personally reached out to The Drama MOB to audition boys for the key role of Jamie, a process that spanned several months, involving self-taped auditions, Zoom callbacks, in-person meetings, and chemistry reads with other cast members.

Coronation Street star and co-founder of the school, Tina O’Brien, praised Owen’s performance as a testament to the school’s commitment to fostering northern talent.

Similarly, Baig scouted at Articulate in Yorkshire, an institution known for its work with students who have gone onto careers in Hollywood and the UK television industry. It also provides tuition support for less affluent students, with most of its students hailing from working-class backgrounds.

The process of selection for character roles underwent several phases, including self-taped auditions, Zoom callbacks, in-person auditions, and chemistry reads with the rest of the cast.

Among the actors chosen were Amélie Pease, Fatima Bojang, and Austin Haynes, whose performances brought pride to the school and underscored the importance of structured training in acting.

Schools like The Drama MOB and Articulate play a crucial role in the acting industry, not just as casting sources, but as nurturing grounds for the next generation of performers. The struggle, however, lies in the limited recognition and funding these schools receive, a gap that needs addressing to continue supporting budding actors’ journeys.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/31/adolescence-drama-schools-hit-out-at-stars-from-nowhere-narrative