Young Kinross actor lands challenging role in classic play

An aspiring actor from Kinross is hoping his performances at the prestigious Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow will be a springboard to success.

Conor McCormick, 18, who studies HNC Acting and Performance at City of Glasgow College, landed a starring role in the college production of the classic Jim Cartwright play, Road.

The play explores the lives of people in a deprived, working class area of Lancashire during the government of Margaret Thatcher, a time of high unemployment in the north of England. The action, which takes place over the course of one evening as the residents of the road prepare to go out, depicts the desperation of their lives during the period, as well as containing a great deal of humour.

Conor, who attended Kinross High School, said: “I played Joey, a 17-year-old who is never out of bed and practically starves himself to death throughout the play. He stays in a bed for all of his scenes and for me that was a challenge as I’m so used to constantly moving about on the stage.”

The teenager has secured a place on City of Glasgow College’s HND Acting and Performance Course for next year as he looks to achieve his long-term goal of becoming a working actor.

“I would be happy to end up doing either film or theatre work so long as I get to put across amazing characters and important messages about society,” he said.

Conor McCormick, 18, in the play Road.