| Breaking free from the street to the stage |
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Actor Christopher Lee Power will be busy over Christmas. He’s appearing in panto at the Floral Pavilion, Wirral playing  the Baron in Cinderella. Oh no he isn’t – oh yes he is! But Christopher’s childhood reads nothing like a fairy story. His life was not heading for a ‘happy ever after’ ending. He was born in 1968 the third of four children. Money was tight in the Power household. They lived in a tiny flat with no bath and a toilet in the yard. His dad was a compère in the clubs and his mum a country singer and poet. Christopher’s dad had a drink problem and spent many years in and out of prison. He was witness to a violent assault in the family’s flat when a man lost his life. The family moved soon after to an estate in Birkenhead, where his parents still live. Christopher was born with a hearing problem and at the age of 8 was referred to a children’s hospital for speech therapy and medication for hyperactivity. It was here that he was sexually abused. ‘I did not tell anyone. In fact it was not until I was about 18 that I finally told my mum,’ he recalls. He bottled up his emotions and became angry with anyone in authority. As he got older he went around with the estate’s gang, which led to experiments with drugs and glue. He fell prey to another sexual abuser, again he was too fearful to tell. ‘By the time I reached thirteen I had been in and out of juvenile courts many times,’ he says. Violence, drugs, alcohol and gambling ruled his life. Even the short, sharp shock of ‘Boot Camp’ at a Detention Centre didn’t deter him. Finally, he was  sent to an adult prison. ‘It was here that I cried out to God. It was not long before a friend introduced me to Christianity. As the months went on I was changing as a person. The addictions to drink, drugs and gambling stopped. I was being supported by youth workers and a gentle man called Ron who began to tutor me with my permission in the arts. I was following my dream of becoming an actor. I had made bad mistakes and now I wanted a new life.’ It wasn’t easy, but Christopher’s life did fulfil his dream. He eventually gained a place at drama school and went on to do a further course at RADA. He is now a member of the Christian organisation ‘Arts Centre Group’. (www.artscentre.group.org.uk) ‘It is over 22 years ago that I made a decision to turn my life around. I am now 40 and married to a beautiful women and have a child. I have been directing and teaching at a stage school for two years and have been acting in TV, film and theatre.’ Christopher’s aim now is to be ‘a voice for those who have been abused or involved in the kind of lifestyle I once lived.’ He is happy to share his story to inspire others. He has written his autobiography Breaking Free From The Street To The Stage (available from Amazon) to show how anyone, from whatever background, can pursue their dream and find fulfilment. You can contact Christopher via email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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