CUMBERNAULD drama student is top talent

A CUMBERNAULD drama student has beaten hopefuls from across Scotland after landing a role in his first professional production at just 19.

Grampian Way lad Daniel Campbell was talent-spotted while appearing as monster Caliban in The Tempest by William Shakespeare at Coatbridge College.

He was then asked to audition for alfresco Shakespearean festival Bard in The Botanics – and landed no fewer than three roles in Romeo and Juliet!

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The former Our Lady’s High School pupil is playing hothead Tybalt, the nurse and Friar John in a month-long run in Glasgow, running till July 21.

Daniel said: “I am so excited. Because I do a lot of swordfighting as Tybalt it is knackering but this has been a very good experience for me – and I wouldn’t have had it at all had it not been for Coatbridge College.”

Many locals will have seen for themselves the point at which this talented young man saw where his future lay.

“I got cast as the lead in a school production of The Boyfriend and that was it – I just knew at that point what I wanted to do,” said Daniel, namesake of his favourite actor, Daniel Day-Lewis.

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Come September, Daniel will have a new role in Edinburgh – after landing a place at the Acting for Stage and Screen course run by Napier University and Queen Margaret University.

“At the moment, I prefer acting onstage – just seeing how the audience reacts is brilliant but obviously I’m interested in film too,” he said.

Daniel has had a head start there too – as he was chosen to take part in the National Youth Film Academy earlier this year.

Now he has everything to play for – and the curriculum leader for his college course, Graham Carr said that Romeo and Juliet was just the start.

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Graham said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Daniel. He is proving to be an extremely hard working and talented actor. I believe he will do very well and I wish him every success in this production and in the future.’’

Tickets for the show are available from 0141 429 0022 priced £15/£10.