Help James to London School of Musical Theatre

Hello!

My name is James Loynes.

 

I really hope you’re well and finding life is getting back to as normal as possible after such crazy and worrying times.

 

Thank you so much for visiting my fundraiser - I hope you might be able to help.

 

Those who know me, know that it has been my absolute dream since I was a child to work in musical theatre - to stand on stage as a professional West End performer!



Everything was heading in that direction, but unfortunately some difficult personal challenges meant that I couldn’t pursue my dream. 
But now, at the age of 37, life is different and an amazing opportunity has come my way!


I contacted The London School of Musical Theatre to ask if I was too old to train at their school. Even though they said their cut-off age to study is 35, they had looked me up and were excited to invite me to audition. And out of hundreds of applications, I have been accepted as one of twenty on their intensive one year course, designed to get performers ready to take on a career in musical theatre and introduce them to agents and casting directors in the West End!

 

And I start in March!!


I am so excited and can’t believe that I am finally having a proper try at achieving my lifelong dream.

 

The course fee is £16,500 and although I am saving my pennies like never before, I am still £5,000 short of paying my fees.

I completely understand that not everyone is in a position to help financially, in which case I am just so thankful for your encouragement and support, but if you do feel you are able to donate even a small amount towards achieving my lifelong goal, I will work so hard to make sure it is money well spent and make you proud!

 

Thank you so much for reading this.

Below are a couple of recordings of myself performing
 and a few photos.

And also, for those who are quick readers, below is the long version of my story and my dream.

 

Thank you,

Love James

 

Singing 'The Music of the Night' Live:

 

Studio Recording of 'All I Ask of You':

Singing in London:

 

1940's Show with my United Voice Show Choir:

 

Abba themed show with my United Voice Show Choir:

 

Post-Lockdown Garden Concert for United Voice:

 

The Long version:

 

When I was a child (when I began my obsession with Disney!), I would learn every word to every Disney song and mimic all of the characters and their performances in my room. I planned lavish stage performances (which I was convinced would take place!), from the script, to the orchestrations, to the costumes, scenery and choreography!

 

I surprised friends and family when I entered myself into a talent show at church, which led to me being invited to sing regularly at church and built my confidence.

 

At 15, I sang on BBC Radio Lancashire when advertising a show we were doing at church and the late comedian, Jim Bowen (Presenter of Bullseye!) heard me and asked if I’d like to appear on his morning Radio shows. This led to me being asked to sing as part of his Live stage tours of his show.

During this time, singing show tunes in theatres around the north west, I fell in love with entertaining and bringing joy to an audience.

 

Still 15 and naive, I saw that my favourite Disney musical of all time, Beauty and the Beast was going to be touring the UK and I called every telephone number I could find to see if I could audition for the show. (I think I actually thought if I excitedly asked, that they might just let me be in it!)

I finally got through to the casting director (Pippa Ailion), who was impressed that I’d tracked her down and she let me go down to London and audition for her.

I was of course too young, but she was so encouraging and complimentary and wanted to give me the experience.

 

Standing there in that audition room, giving my best shot at a 15 year old baby Beast performance, singing with a professional accompanist on the piano - I knew right then that I wanted a job in professional theatre more than anything!

 

After that, my head would be constantly filled with day dreams of playing this role and playing that role. When friends would visit, I would give one-man performances of whichever show was my latest obsession! I’d have given anything to stand there and sing my heart out on a West End stage with a real orchestra. I worked so hard at school and college to improve my skills and was so excited to be cast in lead roles for performances. I loved getting helpful feedback form teachers and examiners and studied the performances of all of the stars of the West End and Broadway. I wanted to be on stage in a big way!!

 

A few years passed and it was at this time that I faced some personal challenges and choices. I began to realise that if I were to pursue a career in musical theatre, I would also find myself in a situation where I would be allowed and encouraged to embrace aspects of who I am, which at the time would have hurt those around me that I loved the most.

 

I decided instead to get my diploma in singing teaching and focussed on sharing my passion for music in other ways.

I also contacted composer of Christian music, Sally DeFord and asked if I could record demos of her songs for her website. She was delighted to have me do so and though it has always been non-profit, it has given me many opportunities to record her beautiful music and also develop my voice. Sally has also become a special friend, a lifeline and one of the main reasons why my faith is still so important to me.

 

During this time, I also set up a show choir (United Voice), with the aim of bringing the joy of singing and the chance to perform to people of all ages and musical abilities.

I love directing United Voice with all my heart and I’ve grown so much because of it.

After 15 years, the choir members are family to me.

 

Over time, I’ve tried to keep a connection with musical theatre, by posting recordings online.

I also entered and won a competition in The Stage newspaper to record ‘All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera on a musicals album and was invited to London to sing it.

During this event (13 years after seeing her at the Beauty and the Beast audition), West End casting director, Pippa Ailion remembered me and came over to ask how I was and what I was doing now.
I can remember thinking, “now’s your chance!”, but all I allowed myself to say was something like, “I teach now and direct a choir, which I love (true!) and that that’s what I want to do now and I’m happy with just that.”

It was in that moment that I felt my secret dream of still one day working in professional musical theatre slip away.

 

Since then, I have had some wonderful experiences, particularly those with my lovely choir (a favourite being when we performed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and I conducted them all whilst being hauled out of a pit and dragged across the stage by a camel!!)


Over time, I’ve received so much encouragement from those around me, with lovely comments like, “I don’t know why you’re not in the West End”, which I would always find so kind, but always left me feeling a little bit sad.

 

But life goes on and as some will know, life has changed a lot for me. I have been so blessed to find my wonderful Tommy, who is the kindest, most caring and gentlest human being I have ever met and we have now been together for six years.

I am so grateful to all of my family and friends for the love, support and acceptance they have shown and it means everything to me that they all love Tommy as much as (if not more) than me!

 

Recent times and all the uncertainty brought about by Covid and lockdowns had me reflecting on my hopes and goals and I had to admit that although I’d become very good at ignoring them, my dreams of working in professional theatre have never gone away and are as strong today as they were when I was 15 - but I’m now 37!

 

I know 37 isn’t really old, but in theatre, to not start till that late is unusual and makes things difficult.

It’s almost impossible to get professional work in musical theatre without having a professional agent and it’s almost impossible to get an agent without having had formal training.

So, I contacted the principal of The London School of Musical Theatre, explained why I hadn’t been able to pursue my dream previously and asked if they thought I was too old to try.

They kindly got back to me and confirmed that their cut-off age for studying is 35 - but that having looked me up, they were very excited by what they heard and were very happy to allow me to audition for the school - Not only that, but they were happy to fast track me and rather than having to go through the rounds of auditions, go straight to meeting with the principal and other members of the faculty in person. - So I did!

 

I went down to London and sang two songs - one from Beauty and the Beast (of course!) and ‘Poisoning Pigeons In the Park’ (because I’m daft!)

They checked that I could act and dance (that was scary!) and as a result of that meeting, out of hundreds of applications, I was unconditionally offered one of twenty places on their one year intensive course, designed to get performers industry ready to take on a career in musical theatre.

 

I’m both terrified and beyond excited!

I was so emotional at being accepted and at the wonderful responses of support I’ve had from friends and family, who have been so thrilled for me.

This, for me, marks the real start of my official efforts (at last) to make a proper go at achieving my lifelong dream and I feel like I’m 15 again!

 

Due to Tommy’s on-going health issues (he’s waiting on heart surgery and repeat back-surgery) and the fact that we don’t like being apart for long, both Tommy and I will be temporarily heading down south to make it an adventure together and be able to support each other.

 

This has all been a bit of a whirlwind and is happening so quickly. Due to previous lockdowns, the school is running their 2022 course from March and my first day at the school will be March 7th!

As mentioned above, the course fees are £16,500, with living expense expected to exceed £10,000 and whilst I’ve been saving my pennies harder than ever, (with a determination like never before!) I am still £5,000 short of paying for my course fees.

I will be borrowing money and selling things that I can to cover the cost of living, but would be so grateful if you felt you were to help in any way towards the shortfall on my course fees.

 

I’m so thankful for the support and encouragement I have received and particularly the excitement of those who have been so pleased at my news!

If you’re not financially in a position to donate, I understand and thank you so much for the love and support you show in so many other ways and for being the wonderful cheerleaders that I needed to take this leap.

 

I’ll work hard to make you proud!

 

Thank you so much,

Love James