A ST HELENS man is living his dream as he sails around the world performing for crowds on a luxury cruise.
Growing up in Blackbrook and then Eccleston, Luke Zdrenka dreamed of becoming a performer from a young age.
With a love of song and dance, the De La Salle student nurtured his talent at Elizabeth Hill drama school in Dentons Green, and later trained in Musical Theatre at St Helens College and at Manchester's Arden Theatre School.
Wanting to broaden his horizons after graduation, he landed performing roles in places such as Mallorca, Germany, and Crete.
Combining his passion for performing with a love of travelling, Luke bagged his dream job as a performer on the 6* Silver Sea cruise liner.
This has seen him travel to all corners of the globe, explore a variety of cultures and perform for a wide range of people - including some famous faces.
At present, he is six months into a nine-month trip which left from Florida and toured South America, before heading over to Europe and finishing in the Nordic islands.
Luke, 32, said: "Performing and singing is something I've always been doing since I was little.
"I've been able to travel the full circumference of the Earth while performing on the cruises and it has been an amazing experience."
Although Luke is living his dream on the 6* cruise liner, it hasn't always been plain sailing for the St Helens singer.
With covid severely interrupting travel plans for the best part of two years, Luke returned home and worked as an operative at the Amazon Warehouse in Burtonwood for 18 months.
Staying in one place for the longest period of his adult life, Luke said it was "eye-opening" having to readjust his life and work in a field so different from what he was used to.
He said: "It was nuts and really eye-opening to be honest, because I was so used to performing and travelling and then all of a sudden I couldn't do any of this.
"I felt like lived a 'normal' life again but I really enjoyed it. The people I worked with were all very friendly and it helped me to settle down and buy a home in St Helens."
Although he has no short-term plans to return back to his hometown, Luke is grateful to those who have helped shape him as an all-round performer.
Referencing teachers at Elizabeth Hill and St Helens College, he added: "I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here