Having spent the primary years of his life performing in school plays and panto's, Barry's life took an unfortunate downward slide after the age of 16. From that age onwards, Barry spent time as a regular resident at her Majesties pleasure. But in 2003 at 43 years of age, he made his ‘prison break' (not literally). It happened whilst he was enduring a typical monotone day within the walls of Latchmere House Resettlement Prison in Surrey; a somewhat unusual poster appeared on the jail notice board.

HAVE YOU GOT TALENT?

Synergy Theatre Productions were producing for the prison Molliare's ‘Tartuff'. This was a tall order for an untrained actor let alone one in prison. Barry had never lacked confidence and saw this as an opportunity to escape day to day incarceration. Inspired, he decided to offer Synergy the actor Barry Cockers (his new stage name), a man born out of the Natural School of North Wales Talent.

After three weeks of script reading and the usual auditions and eliminations, Barry was not only selected for the play, he had secured the leading role. Fourteen successful performances later his life took a major turn for the better.

Shortly after Barry's release Barry met M J McMahon through a mutual friend and after a series of discussions, screen tests and a number of private acting lessons from acting tutor Andy Lucas, Barry was subsequently cast in the role of The Antlered God for MJ McMahon's Hawk.