Ryan Kopel (born 17th July 1997) is a Scottish actor and singer. He is known for his roles in various West End stage plays, including the titular role of Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.[2]
Ryan Kopel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ryan Kopel July 17, 1997[1] |
| Alma mater | Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Singer |
| Years active | 2018-present |
| Parent | Scott Kopel (father) |
| Relatives | Frank Kopel (grandfather) |
Early life
editKopel was born in 1997 to Scott and Jacqueline Kopel in Kirriemuir, Scotland. He is the grandson of footballer Frank Kopel. Kopel grew up enjoying theatre, performing with his local youth theatre group at the Kirriemuir Town Hall. At the age of 13, he decided to train to pursue a career in stage and screen acting, attending the vocational Dance School of Scotland, in Glasgow. Kopel then moved to London to study at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where he graduated in 2018 with a BA in Musical Theatre.[3]
In 2018, Kopel won the Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year award.[3][4]
Kopel is represented by the Curtis Brown Group.[5]
Career
editKopel started his career on stage in 2018, performing as at the King's Head Theatre as Jerry Johnson in And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens..., a play by American playwright Tennessee Williams that discusses LGBT+ themes.[6] In 2019, Kopel starred as the titular character in a production of The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit alongside Paul Greenwood.[7][8][9][10] In the same year, he performed at the Edinburgh International Festival in the concert version of West Side Story.
Kopel made his West End debut in 2018 in the Young Vic, where he performed in The Inheritance, a seven-hour long play about the AIDS crisis directed by Stephen Daldry.[11] Kopel continued on the West End, joining the ensemble cast of The Book of Mormon in 2020.[12] In the same year, Kopel performed in the radio-play BLUFF, which written and produced by Matt Cavendish and Ed Zanders.[13]
Kopel made his television debut in 2021 on the British Medical drama Casualty, where he guest starred at Frank Polt. He then appeared in the 2022 British mini-series Wedding Season. Kopel returned to theatre in 2022 in Disney's musical the Newsies, where he took on the role of Davey.[14][15]
In 2024, Kopel performed as Lucas in the West End musical comedy The Addams Family.[16][17] Kopel then appeared in HBO's House of the Dragon as Ser Aeron Bracken.[18]
Kopel was announced to play the lead role of Evan Hansen in the UK touring production of Dear Evan Hansen, which opened for previews on the 9th of September 2024 at the Nottingham Playhouse.[19] The production officially premiered on the 17th of September to reviews praising Kopel's performance, including from The Times and The Guardian.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | House of the Dragon | Ser Aeron Bracken | Season 2, Episode 3 "The Burning Mill" |
| 2022 | Wedding Season (TV series) | Duncan | Episode 1 |
| 2021 | Casualty (TV series) | Frank Polt | Season 35, Episode 25. Credited as Ryan Koppel |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dear Evan Hansen | Evan Hansen | UK Touring production |
| 2024 | The Addams Family | Lucas | London Palladium |
| 2022 | Newsies | Davey | Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, United Kingdom |
| 2020 | The Book of Mormon | Ensemble | Prince of Wales Theatre, London |
| 2018 | The Inheritance | Ensemble / Understudy Leo and Adam | Young Vic, London |
| 2019 | The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit | Timothy Cratchit | Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester |
| 2018 | And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens... | Jerry Johnson | King's Head Theatre, London |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | West Side Story | Action | Edinburgh International Festival |
| 2020 | BLUFF | Alec Bonum | Radio musical |
| 2023 | Billie The Kid | David Frances | Vaudeville Theatre |
References
edit- ^ "Statutory registers - Births". ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Birt, Elizabeth (18 June 2024). "The stars announced for Dear Evan Hansen Glasgow tour dates". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b Thomson, Janet (19 May 2018). "Rising star Ryan shines in national musical theatre awards spotlight". The Courier. Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year". singerscompany.org.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Prestwich, Joseph (16 August 2018). "Review: And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens". thespyinthestalls.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Marlowe, Sam (15 July 2024). "The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit review — Christmas musical is sheer humbug". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Chapman, Megan (9 December 2019). "REVIEWED: The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit | VIVA UK Lifestyle Magazine". UK Lifestyle Magazine | VIVA Manchester. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Strachan, Graeme (19 October 2019). "Angus man Ryan Kopel takes lead role in musical inspired by Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol". The Courier. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Strachan, Graeme (27 December 2019). "Angus starlet Ryan Kopel falls in love with city where late grandfather made his footballing name". The Courier. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Thomson, Janet (8 November 2018). "Ryan Kopel makes West End debut in The Inheritance". The Courier. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Strachan, Graeme (8 January 2020). "Angus starlet Ryan Kopel takes up new West End role in huge hit The Book Of Mormon". The Courier. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "BLUFF - a Brand-New Musical Comedy Written Exclusively For Radio is Coming Next Month". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Behind the Scenes with Newsies' Ryan Kopel". Wembley Park. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Russo, Gillian (25 October 2022). "Everything you need to know about 'Newsies' in London". London Theatre. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Full cast announced for The Addams Family, A Musical Comedy Live in Concert at London Palladium". Theatre Weekly. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ McLaughlin, Charlotte (24 January 2024). "Michelle Visage tangos with Addams Family musical co-star in first look". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ O'Keefe, Meghan (1 July 2024). "'House of the Dragon' Kicks Off War With the Brackens vs. the Blackwoods in Season 2 Episode 3 | Decider". Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Radcliffe, Ollie (12 June 2024). "West End stars announced for award-winning musical coming to Norwich". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Williams, Holly (18 September 2024). "Dear Evan Hansen review — how did this odd musical became a global hit?". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Wiegand, Chris (18 September 2024). "Dear Evan Hansen review – affecting account of teen torment embarks on UK tour". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ O'Mahony, Holly. "Dear Evan Hansen review at Nottingham Playhouse, directed by Adam Penford, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and starring Ryan Kopel, Lauren Conroy, Alice Fearn". The Stage. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Sam. "Theatre Review: Dear Evan Hansen". Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Orme, Steve (9 September 2024). "Theatre review: Dear Evan Hansen at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Gumushan, Tanyel (18 September 2024). "Dear Evan Hansen tour review – voices you could listen to for forever". Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Trewhela, L. J. (9 October 2024). "Dear Evan Hansen, thank you for being brilliant in Cornwall". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ a b Kopel, Ryan. "Profile". app.spotlight.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Ryan Kopel and More Will Lead New Production of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Nottingham Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.