 In 1862 he built the Haymarket Theatre on the south side of Bourke Street, and in 1863 Mr and Mrs Charles Kean played a season there.Coppin initially made his reputation as an actor but, after he had been a few years in Australia, management took up increasing amounts of his time.He was a comedian, who starred in parts like Paul Pry, Bob Acres, and Lancelot Gobbo.