Get Mikayla to The Associated Studios UK (pt 1)

Hi There,

Mikayla Barratt has been one of the quiet acheiving rising stars of the Ipswich music and theatre scene for the last two years. Prior to this she was Captain of Music for two years at St Peters Springfield and studied dance for 12 years at the prestigious Sayers Dance Academy. She is currently studying Literature and Journalism at UQ (in her second year)

On the 6.7.23 she was given the offer of a lifetime, the opportunity to learn Musical Theatre for 9 months at Associated Studio's London School. This pristigious institution has produced some of the West Ends best talent and sees classes taught by the likes of Sir Patrick Steward, Sir Ian Mckellen, Sir Derek Jacobe, Sir Tim Rice, Dame Judy Dench and Dame Maggie Smith, to name a few. Her audition process took some 9 months against 1000's of applicants from around the world.

She undertook the audition with her usual humility and expected nothing to come of it, seeing each call back as just a nice gesture that may lead to nothing (as so often is the case, especially to anyone from Queensland). No one has been more suprised by this offer then her.

So why, if she has been accepted, am I writing this?

Unfortunately, the course is some $22 000 (AU) and estimated expenses are likely to be a further $25,000(AU). This is further compounded by the fact she needs to put down a deposit of $10 000 (AU) in 10 days.

Being a 20 year old Uni student, brought up by her grandparents after the sudden passing of her father when she was a baby, and living independently for 1.5 years, this is an unexpected expense in a very short time.

Mikayla has all but resigned herself to the fact the offer will have to be declined because of her financial status, but as her partner and her staunch supporter (as well as an advocate for the arts in Ipswich QLD), I cant stand back and let her give up the opportunity of a lifetime. To date no Ipswichian has made the jump to the West End stage and I honestly think she is the best hope our city has to show the world what talent the city of Ipswich DOES produce

I have therefore posted this the "Get Mikayla to The Associated Studios UK Fund" in 4 parts:

Part 1 - Foot in the Door ($11 500)

Lets get her place secured by funding her deposit of $10000 (note we are asking for $11 500 to counteract fees from GFM)

Part 2 - Get her on the Plane and Settled ($15000)

I've been on a plane with Mik.... its not an easy thing to do at the best of times. However what we need is your help to get her on the plane, in to a room in London and help her not to starve in the first 4 months, while she once played a street urchin, lets not force her to go full method!

Part 3 - Get her through ($11 500)

This course is intense, how intense? 9-5 every weekday! That does not leave a great deal of time for a part time job to pay off the remaining $10 000 as well as her general living expenses. So lets build up some funds to pay off the whole course.

Part 4 - Can we have her back now? ($2000)

While it would be easy to leave her over there (and a lot quieter for me!) it would be nice for Mikayla to come back again after her studies. Part 4 is to pay for her plane trip home. This gives the people of Ipswich too the chance to learn from her knowledge to better our own theatre offerings in the community.

Many thanks to you all for taking the time to read this and hopefully donate to this wonderful cause for a truly spectacular person.

All the best

Robert Shearer

M.Mus, B.Mus