AN acclaimed Wirral director has been chosen to direct a film which tells the true story of a Birkenhead actor who battled childhood adversity to follow his dream.

Bev Clark, artistic director of Wallasey's Hand in Hand Theatre Productions, will direct Breaking Free, based on Christopher Lee Power's autobiography.

It charts his tough childhood in Rock Ferry and Birkenhead before moving to Croydon and eventually becoming a professional actor - after having trained at Richmond Drama School and later RADA.

The film also features Wirral-based former Brookside stars Ann-Marie Davies and Suzanne Collins and Liverpool actress Rebecca Cummins.

Wirral Globe:  

Bev Clark has been chosen to direct Breaking Free

In 2011 Bev was invited by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh - to Buckingham Palace - to celebrate the achievement of her work with young people in the performing arts.

Christopher Lee Power, the uncle of Tranmere Rovers midfield player Max Power, hopes the production will put Wirral on the map.

He said: "We have got a magnificent team and look forward to filming Breaking Free later in the year.

"Everything Bev Clark touches seems to turn into an award - so we are hoping she can do the same for us!

"We have selected the final 13 actors and actresses so we now have a complete team in place."

Wirral Globe:

Christopher Lee Power with Breaking Free co-star Rebecca Cummins

 

Wirral Globe:

Christopher Lee Power and Christopher Chalton, of Heswall, film on New Brighton promenade

The book - first released in 2009 - is described by Christopher as a detailed account of what it was like on the streets in and around Birkenhead during the 1970s and 1980s.

Christopher, who now lives in Port Sunlight, struggled with dyslexia. His balance, speech and language, and eventually left school without a qualification.

His life went from bad to worse and he got caught up in drug taking, alcohol, gang fights, petty theft which led to two three month spells in prison - before eventually moving up to London and turning his life around with acting.

Wirral Globe:

Chris Charlton, playing a young Christopher, being filmed on the fire escape at the Old Court House, Manor Road in Wallasey

He eventually broke free - moving to London and eventually becoming a professional actor after having trained at Richmond Drama School and later RADA.

Christopher is to set up ‘The Power Foundation’ - where a percentage of all profits made from the film will be ploughed back and invested in youngsters so they are able to go to college and study acting.

More details are from www.breakingfreefilm.org