A former Performing Arts student from Stratford-upon-Avon College is flying high in their career as they star in Wendy & Peter Pan for the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company.
Daniel Krikler, who studied Musical Theatre at the college from 2007-2009, is taking on the title role of Peter Pan at the Barbican Theatre in London.
Daniel was destined to fly into a performance career after falling in love with the stage at a young age: “I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life almost immediately.” He joined a local youth theatre group and dance school and his passion for it just grew and grew.
He knew the best chance of getting into drama school was to continue to study, so chose Stratford-upon-Avon College as his training ground: “A small group of my friends came with me. We were all so obsessed and full of hope and ambition.”
The most special thing about college for Daniel? The people he got to go on that adventure with: “The people. The friends. Socialising. Learning from the students as well as great teachers. I loved making new, incredibly talented friends and going on that journey together.”
Following his time at college, Daniel went to the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts for three years, before later studying a Master’s Degree in Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama.
Since training, Daniel has performed in some fantastic productions. He fondly remembers Musical Loserville which transferred to the West End, and his first play Pink Mist: “Just being paid to do what you loved felt crazy. There’s always that little voice in your head that tells you you’ll probably never get a job, so to land these roles, it’s pretty great.”
Now Daniel is to sprinkle himself with fairy dust and fly to Neverland with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) – an incredibly special achievement: “I grew up just outside Coventry and would cycle for over an hour to the RSC to watch shows. I remember cycling home afterwards along country roads with my mind full of these incredible characters I’d just seen. So to work with that company all these years later on such a magical show and character feels really extraordinary!”
Programme Manager for Performing & Production Arts, Claire Morley, comments: “Daniel was always an independent and focused student. Watching him pursue his goals with such determination and talent has been a true privilege, and his success in both his roles and career is a testament to his hard work and dedication.”
And for any budding actors out there, Daniel has this advice: “Nurture your confidence and self-belief. It’s hard to build up and easy to destroy, so water it and hold onto it.”
Wendy & Peter Pan is playing at the Barbican Theatre in London from 21st October to the 22nd November.
