Ryan Kopel
Born
Ryan Kopel

(1997-07-17) July 17, 1997 (age 27)[1]
Alma materMountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation(s)Actor, Singer, Songwriter
Years active2018-present

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]

Early life

edit

Kopel 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

edit

Kopel 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]

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.[13][14]

In 2024, Kopel performed as Lucas in the West End musical comedy The Addams Family.[15][16] Kopel then appeared in HBO's House of the Dragon as Ser Aeron Bracken.[17]

Kopel was announced to play the lead role of Evan Hansen in the UK touring production of Dear Evan Hansen, which will open on the 9th of September 2024 in the Nottingham Playhouse.[18]

Filmography

edit
Television roles[19]
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
Stage roles[19]
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
Concert roles[20]
Year Title Role Notes
2019 West Side Story Action Edinburgh International Festival
2023 Billie The Kid David Frances Vaudeville Theatre

Discography

edit
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name[21]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
AUS
AUT
CAN
FRA
GER
IRE
NZ
SWI
US
"Comfortable" 2020 Non-album single
"Where Did You Go" 2021 Non-album single

References

edit
  1. ^ "Statutory registers - Births". ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  2. ^ Birt, Elizabeth (18 June 2024). "The stars announced for Dear Evan Hansen Glasgow tour dates". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Young Scottish Musical Theatre Performer of the Year". singerscompany.org.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  6. ^ Prestwich, Joseph (16 August 2018). "Review: And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens". thespyinthestalls.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. ^ Marlowe, Sam (15 July 2024). "The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit review — Christmas musical is sheer humbug". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Thomson, Janet (8 November 2018). "Ryan Kopel makes West End debut in The Inheritance". The Courier. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Behind the Scenes with Newsies' Ryan Kopel". Wembley Park. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  14. ^ Russo, Gillian (25 October 2022). "Everything you need to know about 'Newsies' in London". London Theatre. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ McLaughlin, Charlotte (24 January 2024). "Michelle Visage tangos with Addams Family musical co-star in first look". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Radcliffe, Ollie (12 June 2024). "West End stars announced for award-winning musical coming to Norwich". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b Kopel, Ryan. "Profile". app.spotlight.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  20. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Ryan Kopel and More Will Lead New Production of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Nottingham Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Ryan Kopel". Spotify. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
edit