HE once stood in front of 2,500 people in Australia's Victoria State Theatre singing Bizet's Pearl Fishers Duet.

Now he's part of a male striptease act performing in cities across the UK.

It's been a long way from full-throated arias to full frontal nudity, but Aussie Tim Rogers claims he's never been happier.

For Tim, 34, is starring in the stage musical of smash hit film The Full Monty which arrived in Manchester this week on its first nationwide tour, having proved a hit on both Broadway and the West End.

From his beginnings in the highbrow surroundings of opera, where he studied with Dame Joan Hammond, Tim made the move into musicals because, he said, that's where his heart lay.

"Opera gave me a strong basis in singing," he said. "The classical technique has served me really well over the years.

"But I found my passion lay in musical theatre. As much as I love listening to opera, I missed the straight acting you get in musicals. When that combination of music and drama is right, it's fantastic."

Tim moved to London four years ago and since then has starred on the West End and in touring productions like Whistle Down The Wind, which came to Manchester last year.

The Full Monty though, in which he plays the lead character Jerry Lukowski, is a totally different experience.

For starters, there's that notorious final scene when the six steel workers stand completely starkers before hordes of screaming women.

Was Tim at all apprehensive about letting it all hang out, so to speak?

"I was absolutely terrified!" he revealed. "And I still am -- every night.

"It's not something you get used to. But, although it's nerve-racking, you do get involved in the lives of the characters and you really want them to pull off this crazy idea they have.

"If you approach it from that angle, it's not quite as terrifying. But you've still got to get naked!"

Unlike the film, which enabled the actors to retain some modesty thanks to its inventive use of camera angles, Tim and his co-stars have no such luxury on stage.

"We have to stand facing the audience," he said. "But the lighting's very helpful! I think people might be a bit disappointed, but nobody should be offended.

"Although it does depend where you're sitting. Different theatres, different angles - it's terrifying!"

One major change from the film is the setting has been changed from Sheffield to Buffalo in the US.

Tim said: "The musical was written by a group of Americans who bought the rights to the film. When I went to see the show in London I was a bit apprehensive, thinking, 'What have the Yanks done with this?'

"But within a couple of minutes you're so involved in the storyline you forget all about the setting."

Part of the film's appeal was its 70s-inspired soundtrack, including disco favourites like Hot Chocolate. Tim says the musical's original score retains that pop-rock sort of feel.

"I was a big fan of the film," he said.

"It's terrific and Robert Carlisle is a fantastic actor.

"It was quite scary following in his footsteps, in a way, but then I was in a similar situation in Whistle Down The Wind, where I played the Alan Bates character.

"You either throw yourself into these roles and pull them off, or you don't."

Catch Tim in The Full Monty at Manchester Opera House until Saturday, April 3. For tickets call (0870) 4019000.