A BARNSLEY man who found his confidence through acting is opening a performing arts school to help others who may have been bullied or have low-self esteem.

Liam Rooke has been holding auditions for budding actors to join his theatre, film and television school, Peak Performance Acting in Worsbrough.

Liam said he was bullied as a youngster because he was ‘quiet and chubby’ but really found his confidence through acting.

He has since appeared in a number of adverts, short films and also done voiceover work.

Liam, 31, of Wakefield Road, Barnsley, said: “When I was about 11 I was in Sweeney Todd at school. I went for the main part and everyone said ‘you can’t let him go on stage, it’s going to devastate him.’

“I was the classic quiet, chubby kid at the back of the class, and I wasn’t academically favoured at school. I was always more creative.

“They gave me the major part because no one else wanted it. But I went for it and ended up performing it all week. And I loved it.”

Liam joined the Lamproom when he was about 14 and studied drama at university.

He has opened the theatre school to give people the opportunity he said he didn’t have.

“Acting wasn’t that accessible to me when I was little. It wasn’t really something that was broadcast as a way to build your confidence and skills.

“Acting opened me up completely. I couldn’t find which avenue to go down and it gave me confidence and bought me to life from being such a quiet kid.

“If someone had put a maths book in front of me, I was almost reduced to tears because it was like learning another language. But I found theatre and I’ve been trying different projects ever since, even modelling.”

Liam said he was hoping to set up an acting agency.