A NINE-YEAR-OLD Davenham schoolboy is celebrating a breakthrough moment after landing his first professional theatre role while also reaching the national finals of a major UK acting competition.
Leo Baker, who attends Davenham CofE Primary School, has been cast in Stafford Gatehouse Theatre’s 2026 production of William Shakespeare's Richard III.
Represented by Lauren Kelly Casting, Leo will play young Richard of York, one of the princes at the heart of Shakespeare’s historical drama.
While the role marks his professional stage debut, Leo's family say he is simply enjoying the experience and focusing on doing his best on stage and in the competition.
“We are incredibly proud of Leo making his professional debut,” said his parents, Drew and Sharon Baker.
“We hope this will be the beginning of an exciting and rewarding journey for him.
“We can’t wait to watch him take to the stage.”
Leo first got into acting aged five by following in the footsteps of his older sister Tilly, who also performs and has inspired him to pursue drama more seriously.
Away from rehearsals, Leo is enjoying success on the competition circuit after impressing judges in the National Youth Monologues, a UK-wide contest for young performers aged nine to 19.
The competition invites thousands of young people to submit performances in categories including contemporary, classical, screen, and original/devised monologues.
This year’s contest attracted around 4,000 entries from across the country, with only a small fraction progressing through regional heats to the national final in London’s West End.
Leo performed in the original/devised category, creating his own monologue before competing at the North regional final at the Crewe Lyceum to secure his place in the last stage.
The national final will take place in London this June, giving Leo the chance to perform in front of industry professionals and theatre fans from across the UK.
It caps a remarkable spell for the young actor, who is currently juggling school life with rehearsals for one of Staffordshire’s flagship productions.
Despite the attention, Leo is said to be characteristically unfazed, taking both his professional debut and national recognition in his stride.
Richard III is part of the annual Stafford Shakespeare season at Gatehouse Theatre, which regularly attracts big-name talent and draws audiences from across the region.
The 2026 production will run in the summer, with tickets already on sale through the theatre’s website.
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