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Dressed in a black hoodie, navy tracksuit bottoms and scuffed trainers, the young boy looks self-conscious as he stands on the makeshift stage.
It’s Christmas 2017 at the Pauline Quirke Academy, a drama school in Southport, Merseyside, and the youngsters are putting on a performance for their parents.
In one photograph, shared on the academy’s social media pages, the boy, aged 11, stands with a script in one hand as he recites his lines.
In another, his arms are linked with other students as they dance in circles around the room.
He attends Saturday morning classes here along with his elder brother, joining other local children – aged between four and 18 – who share a passion for music, dance and theatre.
But this boy is not like the others. While those around him are animated and enthusiastic, he looks sullen and detached, often positioning himself on the edge of …