The secrets of casting the next breakout child star – from Adolescence to the new Harry Potter series

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A shorter version of this article first appeared in TopMob magazine.

Stacey Burrows’ Bradford-based drama school and casting agency supplied 150 child extras for the popular Netflix series *Adolescence*, a show that won multiple Emmy Awards this year.

Several actors in 28 Years Later, including Amélie Pease (who plays Lisa, Jamie’s sister), Fatima Bojang (Jade), and Austin Haynes (Fredo), all trained at the same drama school. Austin’s brother, Rocco, appears briefly at the beginning of the film, and Rory Wilmot, another graduate of the school, has been cast as Neville Longbottom in the upcoming Harry Potter series with a contract lasting eight years.

Here Burrows tells RT how she helps to nurture young talent.

I used to be a lawyer, handling minor cases in courts throughout northern England. I enjoyed public speaking, so I started a public speaking school for children one evening a week, and built a website for parents to follow their child’s development. When CBeebies found the school and asked me to do some vocal coaching for a TV series, I agreed on the condition that some of my students could be involved as extras. They were so pleased with the results that they kept asking for more children to appear, and eventually, I decided to focus on the agency full-time. It really took off in 2015.

We recently started accepting adult performers, but our main goal is still supporting young talent up to age 25. We work with kids from all over the country, and many come from challenging or diverse backgrounds. We’re committed to making sure financial issues don’t hold anyone back – for example, we recently paid for an actor’s travel to an audition and told them they could repay us when they become successful. Our drama classes are very affordable at around £8 a week, and we offer many scholarships. We also visit schools to run free workshops, giving students a taste of what a career in acting is like.

We regularly supply actors for shows like Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, and we’re known for providing talent for realistic, Northern-based dramas. Casting directors give us detailed descriptions of the characters they need – including age, accent, and any specific physical traits, especially if the actors playing their parents have already been chosen. We then recommend actors who fit the bill, send their resumes, and the casting director decides who to bring in for an audition.

We help young actors with self-tape auditions. They receive a short script – usually two or three scenes – to learn, and then record themselves performing at home. They can send us these recordings via WhatsApp, and we provide personalized feedback as voice notes – a service many agencies don’t offer. This gives them extra support to ensure they understand the material and deliver their best performance. Our feedback covers everything from technical aspects, like lighting, to performance details, such as maintaining an accent.

If the casting team loves your initial audition tape, they’ll share it with the director and producers. If they’re interested, you’ll be invited to a callback – this could be a virtual meeting or an in-person audition. This is where you’ll work through the scenes again, and the director will give you some guidance to see how well you take direction. Sometimes, you’ll receive an offer right away. Other times, they might ask you to do a chemistry read with other actors, or bring you back for another callback.

We prioritize building strong relationships with each client, which we call ‘small books,’ allowing us to know them well. We check in with everyone weekly in short, 10-minute meetings. We’re committed to providing open and honest feedback – if we believe a child needs to develop specific skills to progress, we’ll always let their parents know and hope for their support.

I’m always so impressed by young performers! It takes real grit to succeed – they face a lot of rejection, so resilience, dedication, and determination are key. Beyond that, they need to be mature for their age, have a fantastic memory for their lines, and truly understand and convey emotions. It’s wonderful to celebrate their achievements, and I love being able to support them whenever I can – one week I might be at a school play, and the next, I could be all the way in LA for a movie premiere! It’s a truly exciting journey to watch them grow.

As someone who loves movies and follows the industry, I often hear agents complain about dealing with parents of young actors, but thankfully, that’s not an issue where I’m at. We actually do a good job of guiding families through everything. Let’s face it, this world is completely foreign to anyone outside of it. Sometimes a role can be huge – like this new Harry Potter project – and not just financially. It can mean a kid having to live away from home and their family for a long time, and often one parent ends up having to put their own career on hold to support them.

When finalizing deals, we often arrange additional flights to allow family visits. We also facilitate virtual meetings with the child’s school to help them stay connected with friends and teachers. Being part of a large international organization can disrupt family life, so we prioritize keeping our children happy and engaged. If they aren’t enjoying the experience, we believe they shouldn’t continue.

You can now watch ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix, with subscriptions starting at just £5.99 per month. It’s also available through Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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2025-09-15 14:05