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Spot at Macca’s shows star Daniel’s no dope

by Frank Wood
30/ 4/2008

A RISING star, who began his stage career as Dopey in his primary school panto, has won a coveted place at the famous "Macca" academy.

More than 4,000 people from all over the world auditioned for one of the 40 places at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, set up in 1996 by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty. One of them has gone to 17-year-old Daniel Fox of Bury Old Road, Heywood.

He starts in September and will study for three years for a degree in musical theatre.

Daniel, who attended St Margaret’s CE Primary School and then Heywood Community High School, is now in the final stages of his Diploma in Performing Arts at Bury College. Daniel says he still has to keep pinching himself to make sure he is not dreaming about his place at LIPA.

To make the grade, he had to take part in a series of gruelling auditions, including songwriting and performing live before a panel of judges. One of his songs was ‘The Impossible Dream’.

He says he still has to smile when he recalls how he was bitten by the stage bug.

He said: "I was in a Nativity play at St Margaret’s, but then I got the part of Dopey in Snow White and I made my mind up then that the theatre was for me. But I still can’t believe I’ve got into LIPA. It’s a dream come true."

For five years, he studied at Carol Godby Stage School in Bury, which has spawned many stars of TV and theatre.

"But my weakness was always my dancing and, at Bury College, I have really improved," he said.

Even before he completes his degree course at LIPA, Daniel could be seeing his name up in lights.

He has just learned that he has been chosen for a role in a new musical to be premiered in the West End next year. Details are being kept under wraps at the moment, but Daniel says his place at LIPA should present no problems.

"At LIPA they really encourage students to take on performing roles and I’ll be able to take time out and then continue my studies when the musical’s run ends," he said.

His first love is singing and he has already cut one album, ‘Maybe One Day’. He has performed at venues all over the north.