Meet Gareth Cooper – Jack and the Beanstalk Audience Favourite

GARETH COOPER
HARRI CO'VERT
Polaroid Photo: Hugh Hastings Photography

Cornwall born and bred, Gareth Cooper plays the baddie’s sidekick, Harri Co’vert, in 2024's Cornwall Playhouse Production of Jack And The Beanstalk at Hall for Cornwall.

Hailing from Truro and raised in Saltash (just the right side of the border), Gareth is an actor, musician, writer, comedian and voiceover artist, who has performed in theatre, film, TV, radio, commercials, animations, sketches and web-series.

This year he's performed as Stanley Stubbers in One Man, Two Guvnors at the New Vic; played several characters in Julius Caesar at Southwark Playhouse; and continued touring his solo folk storytelling show, The Mermaid of Padstow round Cornwall (fitting in some paddleboarding when he gets the chance).

We asked Gareth a few questions about growing up in Cornwall, and how he fell in love with theatre…

Whereabouts in Cornwall are you from?

Born in Truro, raised in Landrake (little village by Saltash)

Tell us one of your favourite memories of theatre in Cornwall...

I saw Macbeth at the Minack Theatre when I was pretty young - it was grey and windy, and created such a vivid atmosphere for the scenes with the wyrd sisters, it has stuck with me to this day.

Colin Leggo, Susannah van den Berg and Gareth Cooper in Cornwall Playhouse Productions: Jack and the Beanstalk, photographed by HfC photographer in residence, Hugh Hastings

What inspired you to get into theatre?

I started performing in primary school (I played "Joe Cool" in the St Stephen's Primary School panto, naturally!) and loved it from then. After that I acted in anything I could - competitions, school plays, drama groups, community panto. I did drama at GCSE & A-levels and then went straight off to drama school.

Have you performed in anything else professionally in Cornwall?

I've toured my one-man folk show, The Mermaid of Padstow, around rural venues in Cornwall with Carn to Cove, which was a wonderful experience.

What's the best thing about being in Jack and the Beanstalk at Hall for Cornwall?

Wonderful venue, lovely cast, amazing audiences! And it's fab to be home for Christmas, for once.

Gareth Cooper as Horace Muffin-Stuffler (Chipping Norton Theatre)

Gareth Cooper as Horace Muffin-Stuffler (Chipping Norton Theatre)