ADRIAN MOLE
A FAMILY AFFAIR
WHEN AARON Gelkoff takes to the stage as Adrian Mole, in the musical version of Sue Townsend’s classic comedy novel, he is following a very exclusive family tradition.
Aaron— aged 13, like the character he plays — is one of three boys who take the part at the Ambassadors Theatre, where the show started its West End run last week to glowing reviews. Two years ago, when the musical was at the Menier Chocolate Factory, one of the Adrians was Ilan Galkoff, Aaron’s distant cousin.
The boys are descended from a pair of first cousins, Barnet and Percy Gelkopf, who emigrated to England from the village of Jakubice between Warta and Sieradz in central Poland in the early years of the twentieth century. On arrival in England, their surnames were written down as Gelkoff and Galkoff.
First to arrive in Liverpool was Barnet Gelkoff, Aaron’s great grandfather, who headed for London and opened a bagel bakery. Percy Galkoff, Ilan’s great-grandfather, stayed in Liverpool and opened a kosher butcher’s shop, which became an icon of Liverpool Jewish life. Its greentiled facade and interior is now preserved at the Liverpool Museum.
The boys’ performance skills don’t seem to be inherited, although on the museum’s website there is a video of Ilan’s grandfather Ivor singing The sausage song, composed to promote the family’s speciality products.
The two families had lost touch. But when Aaron got his first part in the West End, at the age of eight, playing street urchin Gavroche in Les Misérables, he was following in Ilan’s footsteps. Someone at the theatre thought it was quite a coincidence that the boys had such similar surnames, and introduced their mothers.
“We’ve kept in touch over the years,” said Ilan’s mum Suzanne Galkoff, from Radlett. “It’s really an incredible coincidence, There are only six boys
who have played Adrian Mole in London, and our boys are two of them. They do get on very well.”
Aaron, 13 was “always singing nursery rhymes in his cot,” according to his mother, Hayley, and started dance and drama lessons at an early age. He was most recently seen playing the young Jewish boy in Caroline or Change at the Playhouse Theatre. “He finished Caroline or Change in March,” said Mrs Gelkoff. “We were all ready for our summer holiday. Then we got the news that Aaron had this role.” Now, Dad David will stay at home with Aaron while Mrs Gelkoff and daughter Ella,9 go on holiday.
Ilan, 15, went to see Aaron take on the role of Adrian last week, shortly before heading off on Israel Tour. His most recent role was in the Amazon Prime series Good Omens, which will be shown on BBC2 later in the year.
Both boys are aware that child stardom does not always lead to a career as an adult performer. Ilan is about to start a graphic design course at college, while Aaron is a top grade student at West Hatch High School in Chigwell. He celebrated his barmitzvah at Chigwell Synagogue in June.
“We’re all very proud,” said his grandfather, Barry Gelkoff of Chigwell. “And the family connection is fantastic.”
He was singing nursery rhymes in his cot’