Carl Au

Carl Andrew Au (born April 1987)^[1] is a British actor, known for his role as Barry Barry in BBC school drama, Waterloo Road and his many stage credits.

Career

Au began his stage career in 1998, whilst very young. He played Tootles and Nibs in a production of Peter Pan. He didn't star in anything until 2001, when he was a dancer in Aladdin and shortly after, appeared as Young Arthur Pendragon in Pendragon. The following year, he starred as Benny in the musical, Her Benny and in 2004, appeared as Lorenzo in the musical, Lorenzo's Quest.^[3] He went on to appear at the Merseyside Singer of the Year event and had small parts & a dancing role in a 2005 musical version of A Christmas Carol. Au was the principal dancer in the Mardi Grass Festival and the dance captain in Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood.^[3]

Au appeared at the Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year Award ceremony in 2007 and in Good Thing Going at a Stephen Sondheim concert as Chorale. He also starred as a solo vocalist in Barbara Cook & Friends and in 2008, was a dancer at the What's On Stage Theatregoers Choice Awards.^[3] Au was in the ensembles for stage productions of both High School Musical and Hearts and was a dancer in Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi in 2008. He went on to appear in the stage production of Sleeping Beauty and at the 2009 Brit Awards as one of the Pet Shop Boys dancers.^[3]

Au appeared as Nephew Fred in the 2009 Christmas show of A Christmas Carol and as The Mute in the 2010 musical of The Fantasticks. He played Carl in the 2010 Christmas musical of Bells are ringing and appeared as Joe Pesci in Jersey Boys in 2011.^[3]

Waterloo Road

On 25 June 2012, it was announced that ex-EastEnders star, Zöe Lucker would be playing the mother [Carol Barry] of three teenagers in BBC school drama, Waterloo Road. The three teenagers [Barry, Dynasty and Kacey] would be played by Au, Abby Mavers and Brogan Ellis.^[4] This was Au's first television credit. Au's character was billed as "bad boy", causing serious trouble within his first day at the school.^[5] Au's first scenes aired on 3 January 2013, which was the eleventh episode of the series.^[6] Barry's storylines included: constant troublemaking; sleeping with a pupil's mother; difficult relationships with sisters, Dynasty and Kacey due to Dynasty's choice in men and Kacey's transgender decision; taunting his science teacher, Sian Diamond (Jaye Jacobs) which leads to her slapping him; taunting Kyle Stack (George Sampson); blackmailing struggling science teacher, Sue Spark (Vanessa Hehir); and being involved in 'sexting'. Au decided to leave Waterloo Road and departed on 7 November 2013, which was the tenth episode of series nine.^[7] His exit storyline saw Carol exclude him from the family after discovering he stole Kacey's boxing fund. However, Au returned for a guest stint and Barry returned to screens on 22 January 2014, which was the thirteenth episode of series nine.^[8] His main storylines since his return was his relationship with Gabriella Wark (Naomi Battrick) and his relationship with his family. Barry left screens on 26 February 2014, which was the eighteenth episode in series nine, following Dynasty's decision to hand him in to the police for human trafficking.^[9]

Post Waterloo Road

Au's next credit was an appearance in BBC medical drama, Casualty as trouble man, Danny Smith. This episode aired on 20 September 2014.^[10] He then appeared as Alan "Icarus" Flynn in the stage production of Bright Phoenix.^[3]

Filmography

Television

Stage

Events

Personal life

Au currently splits his time between Liverpool and London.^[3] Au is highly skilled in ballad, ballet, baritone, choreography, contemporary dance, jazz dancing and jazz singing.^[3]

References