Esther Morgan, the founder of The Drama MOB, explains the necessity of grassroots training, her school and coaching ‘Adolescence’ star Owen Cooper.
Based in Manchester, The Drama MOB is one of the North West’s leading drama schools and casting agencies. Founded by Esther Morgan and Tina O’Brien, The Drama MOB offers high-quality training for children aged 4-16 who aspire to be on stage or screen.
They also run The Drama MOB Management, a casting agency that represents actors who have appeared in Northern Soaps like Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. Their performers have appeared in ads for big-name brands like John Lewis, as well as TV and film productions like The Railway Children Return, Your Christmas Or Mine and Channel 4’s Everyone Else Burns.
Recently, one of their young performers, Owen Cooper, was the breakout star of Netflix’s Adolescence. We caught up with Esther to find out about Owen’s training at the drama school, the importance of making acting classes accessible to everyone and how to apply for representation with The Drama MOB casting agency.
Hi, Esther. Can you tell us about The Drama MOB?
The Drama MOB was established in January 2013 as we felt there was a gap in the market for an independent drama school and casting agency in Manchester. I was working as a teacher at the time with a specialism in drama, and my friend Tina O’Brien was working as an actress on Coronation Street.
Now, in 2025, we have 23 classes and have just confirmed a new venue with new classes being added later this year. We represent children from newborns to adults and have a very busy casting agency. I mainly work at the agency but still occasionally teach classes.
Can you explain a bit more about the training aspect and classes you offer?
We offer drama classes for children from the age of four. All of our classes have two qualified teachers per class and we follow a yearly curriculum that includes improv, script work, camera work and TV work. We get our students on film and teach them the difference between theatre and film performance. We also put on two shows a year so the children have a lot of time practising live performance in a theatre. Additionally, we bring people in to run workshops on things like stunts, comedy, voice work, etc.
We train children to be audition-ready and to be confident in all aspects of acting.
Owen Cooper, one of your young performers, stars in Adolescence as ‘Jamie’. Could you talk a bit about their journey with you from joining The Drama MOB through to being cast?
We trained Owen Cooper for over two years at our weekly class in Manchester. He took part in theatre productions with us during this time and then he applied to join our agency and was accepted. We got him set up on Spotlight and guided him and his parents through the process.
Owen taped for a number of high-profile projects before we were approached by [casting director] Shaheen [Baig] regarding Adolescence. Adolescence was an open call but Owen was submitted by us through Spotlight. He was coming from a reputable agency and that’s how he got seen for the role and eventually got the job. We suggested a number of boys for the role directly to Shaheen and Owen went through several rounds and workshops before being confirmed for the role.
We invest a lot of time in our young people, including Owen. We really got to know him and his parents and supported them through the process. The fact that the show was done in one shot and Owen was able to do this is due to his training and us working with him. It shows the benefit of good quality training.
What support do your team give to Owen and his family? Or to any young performer and their caregivers when they land a part?
We offer the parents advice regarding what to expect on set, how to manage call sheets, scripts, contracts, social media guidelines, etc. We’re only ever a phone call away and they know they can call us anytime.
Image credit: Ben Blackall / Netflix
What should a parent or caregiver do if their child wants to try acting?
We would always encourage any child to attend good quality drama training – either with ourselves or another reputable school.
Why is grassroots training so important?
Grassroots training is absolutely essential! The more training children have, the more equipped they are for the industry. You never stop learning.
We are very passionate about ensuring acting is accessible to all. We offer fully funded places and also scholarships for any costs involved in the industry, including Spotlight membership, photos and travel.
Can you tell us more about your agency and what the crossover is with the classes you run?
Our agency is open to anyone but we find that the children who attend our classes are really well equipped for the agency assessment.
I attend the classes regularly, which means I get to see the agency children at class and really get to know them. Our drama teachers are able to inform us regarding suitability for roles as they come in.
How do parents/caregivers apply for their child to be represented by your agency?
If children wanted to join The Drama MOB acting agency, we would require them to attend an assessment, which usually involves improvisation as well as script work.
We open our books twice a year for two weeks – you can follow our social media for dates. You’d then apply via our website. Our initial assessment involves a self-tape introduction about who they are, a bit about them and information gathering. From there we shortlist a group to meet in person then get them in the room and meet the parents.
For the assessment, we’ll send a script beforehand to learn. When we meet them in person, we’ll play some games to warm them up and then they’ll perform the script. There’s also a chance for them to ask questions.
Jess White in ‘Robin and the Hood’. Image credit: Julie White.
How do you decide who to represent?
We decide this from the assessment. We would usually look for gaps in our books to make sure we represent a really wide range of ages and looks.
Can you talk a bit about what safeguarding measures you have in place?
All of our teachers are qualified teachers with enhanced DBS certificates, GDPR training, safeguarding and paediatric first aid training. We have a designated safeguarding lead and have a safeguarding and child protection policy.
What would you like parents, caregivers and young performers to know about your school?
We are a fun and professional school where our young people are at the heart of all we do. We’re personal, friendly and we really value the relationships we build up with our families. We offer very high-quality training with huge opportunities for our young people.
The Drama MOB founders Tina O’ Brien and Esther Morgan. Image credit: Dom Brophy.
How do you work with casting directors to find those opportunities for young performers?
We’ve been established for 12 years so we’ve built up many fantastic relationships with casting directors across the country.
Over the years, our children have starred in feature films, soaps, dramas, global commercials and many other opportunities.
When working with young performers, what help and advice do you offer their parents or caregivers?
We work very closely with the parents. We hold regular workshops and information sessions, we also offer any new starters a Zoom information session where we run through as much as we can regarding the agency process. We offer self-tape workshops for parents as well as 1-to-1 Spotlight sessions.
How important is Spotlight to your company and what part does it play in your process?
Spotlight is vital for any young person wanting to join the industry. It’s the best way to get acting opportunities. We ensure that the parents and young people know how to maximise their Spotlight profile to their advantage, and we offer them lots of guidance on this.
We would encourage any young person who wants to secure work to make sure they have a Spotlight profile.
Thanks to Esther for speaking with us. Find out more about The Drama MOB, their drama classes and casting agency.
Adolescence is streaming now on Netflix.
