A BUDDING North-East actor is finding success in a performing arts academy set up by former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Now he hopes to catch the eye of a leading agent and become a professional actor.

Michael Imerson, from Spennymoor, County Durham, is taking a lead role in a production of the classic play The Winslow Boy as part of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts' (LIPA) spring season on Friday and Saturday.

This follows previous leads at LIPA in plays such as The Rover and The Tempest.

Having joined theatre companies in County Durham when he was 14, he was no stranger to leading roles when he arrived on Merseyside, having taken centre stage in productions of Macbeth, Bugsy Malone and Bouncers.

He joined LIPA after receiving an unconditional offer while studying at Durham Johnston School.

In the Winslow Boy, based around the story of Liverpool father George Arthur-Shee who sued the king in a fight to prove his son's innocence, he takes the role of Sir Robert Morton.

The production features original music and some of the costumes from the hit film Titanic.

Michael said: "This is one of the most elegant pieces of British theatre ever written. It is a great honour to be reviving such a masterpiece and a great opportunity for the Liverpool theatre-goers to see what British theatre has been missing."

In May, he will perform with LIPA for the last time at an agent showcase at the Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly, when he hopes to catch the eye of a top promoter and kick-start his professional career