Your stories

I’m so pleased Sam’s got into RADA. I’m especially proud because for 12 years, since Sam was six months old, I brought him and his brother Adam up on my own. When he got into the theatre work I had no transport, so we had to get buses everywhere.

I used to sit there for two or three hours at rehearsals and wait for him, then bring him home again. So it was a bit of a struggle when he was younger, but it’s paying off now.

Sam in Scrooge (front left).

His very first role in the theatres in York was in Scrooge for the York Light Opera Company. He applied and auditioned for that when he was only ten and got a part as an urchin.

About 500 children went for that part and Sam had never auditioned for a show before, so we didn’t think he’d get it, but he did and that was the start of things to come.

Sam is the first member of the family to act, although his great grandma was very outgoing and always singing in the street just like Sam used to when he was little.

Sam Coulson and Syd Little in Aladdin

He’s always been a performer. From being tiny, about two-years-old, especially when we visited my parents, he used to get up on a chair in the middle of the room and sing and perform to everybody. Then when he got to about six he just kept saying, ‘I want to do that. I want to go on the telly!’

So I decided to find a local acting class. When he was seven I found a lady called Doreen Gurry, who ran a small acting class for young children in Acomb in York.

Sam has always been an incredibly disciplined student. He’d get his lines and run home to learn them straight away. It was quite amazing. From being little he’s been very outgoing, and boisterous and loved playing: but when it came to acting, after reading a script once, it was just second nature. Especially now when he’s on bigger things, he just seems to learn lines so easily because he loves it.

Sam Coulson and Michael Starke

His successful RADA application has brought back so many memories of rushing him to drama rehearsals as a little boy and seeing him perform. He was in the Pirates of Penzance at the Theatre Royal in York a few weeks ago. While I watched him I realised it was the last amateur show he’ll be in, I got quite emotional.

He started there when he was ten in Scrooge as a little urchin and now he’s finished his last amateur show and is going to RADA. He’s realised his ambition and his dream. I never imagined it would happen.

Sam is now in the process of trying to raise funds towards his maintenance costs at RADA. They've asked him to try and get sponsors. His target is £5,000. You can read about how to help him on his fundraising page at the top right of this page.