Help James Get To Drama School!
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Hi everyone!
It’s James Prentice here, an actor, musician and vocalist. Performing has been the joy and focus of my life and I’m thrilled to have been offered a place at Mountview in London, one of the top drama schools, on their BA (Hons) Performance - Musical Theatre degree :) This opportunity is a real dream come true, but I need your help to get me there!
The cost of training at Mountview is substantial and reality has sadly hit home due to the large shortfall between the costs and the available Student Loans. The first year's fees are £16,535, but the ‘Tuition Fees Loan’ is only £6,000. I will need the whole ‘Maintenance Loan’ and part time work to just try and cover my rent, travel and food in London!
The £10K shortfall on tuition fees is something that sadly my parents and I can’t afford, which has put me in a position of uncertainty. I feel really blessed to have been given this opportunity, but the reality is, unless I can find the funding in some way very soon, my dream of going to London to study and to pursue my career cannot happen.
Mountview would provide me with unparalleled training, exposure and open doors to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. The skills, experiences and connections gained would be invaluable and significantly enhance my career prospects of getting into the West End and beyond!
I am determined to get there and it is my sincere hope and prayer that you can consider helping me to bridge the gap. It would mean the world to me. Thank you!
My Bio:
I adore Musical Theatre - watching, performing and studying it - and am excited to continue my training at degree level and onto it as a career.
I come from a musical family and have been influenced by my mum's love for musicals and my Dad's work as a professional actor. He got me interested in acting by showing me films with songs, including Disney and particularly High School Musical!
Age eight, I joined The Television Workshop, a weekly acting group through which I had the opportunity to audition for TV, film and theatre. I also joined an agency age ten where I found work in commercials and modelling.
Paid acting roles included Emmerdale as Young Cain Dingle, nominated as best episode at the British Soap Awards. Also brand ads including Asda, Haribo, KFC, Lego, Star Wars, Robinsons, Tesco, Travel Republic and a Morrisons Christmas Ad. These last two TV Ads involved me singing as well.
In terms of professional theatre, I appeared in three productions at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester – ‘The Poisoner’ in ‘Hamlet’ with Maxine Peake, ‘Sonny’ in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' and their Christmas musical 'That Day We Sang' by Victoria Wood which was my biggest inspiration for pursuing this as a career. I was also in the BBC film of the same name with Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball. Working with all these fantastic actors encouraged me to audition for more roles and I carried the passion through school, performing in the school shows each year, building my confidence and drive. In lockdown, my creativity started to flow and I was writing songs on guitar and also teaching myself the piano. This improved my understanding of lyrics, as well as writing and recording music and I released and self-promoted my songs, performing them at gigs. Alongside this I studied and achieved distinction in a RSL Diploma in the Creative Music Industry in Performance.
I have further developed my music theory, sight reading and vocal skills being part of the Halle Youth Choir. I was also part of the Halle Children's Choir for four years, performing in professional concerts and other events, involving various genres of music. I also had singing lessons at school until achieving Grade 6. I was invited to be part of the Greater Manchester Youth Show Choir (GMYSC) for six years, performing sections of musicals with movement and dance, as well as acting through song. After performing at The Bridgewater Hall many times with the Halle and GMYSC over the years, I decided to audition to study Musical Theatre at Pendleton College with some of the same amazing teaching staff.
At college, I have been trusted with leading roles and performed in the Pendleton Season of Shows, most recently ‘Action’ in ‘West Side Story’. I have had many other opportunities too, such as performing at the AO Arena, Old Trafford, Clare College Cambridge, on a cast recording and a BBC theme tune. I also perform as part of the college Consort of Voices and the Chamber Choir. Pendleton College has been the perfect place to improve my craft of acting and singing, as well as, after performing street dance for several years, adding a new string to my bow with jazz, ballet and tap. I am predicted to complete the course with Distinction*s.
Outside of college, I did a two week run last year playing ‘Sonny’ in 'Grease' at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. This gave me insight into the eight shows a week stamina needed in professional theatre. This year I did the same playing ’The Artful Dodger’ in 'Oliver’.
Due to entering the acting industry at such a young age, it has made me appreciate the love of performing, as well as the hard work and sacrifice that it demands. Over the years I have pushed myself in every area of the field. I am very committed and self-motivated, balancing college, choirs, performing, part-time work, voluntary work, hobbies and watching theatre to learn from others. I want to keep enjoying what I do, keep entertaining and keep learning, as I continue to study and dedicate myself to making a career in this industry.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for considering supporting my journey.
Please share with others who may be interested :)
Thank you greatly
James Prentice
The cost of training at Mountview is substantial and reality has sadly hit home due to the large shortfall between the costs and the available Student Loans. The first year's fees are £16,535, but the ‘Tuition Fees Loan’ is only £6,000. I will need the whole ‘Maintenance Loan’ and part time work to just try and cover my rent, travel and food in London!
The £10K shortfall on tuition fees is something that sadly my parents and I can’t afford, which has put me in a position of uncertainty. I feel really blessed to have been given this opportunity, but the reality is, unless I can find the funding in some way very soon, my dream of going to London to study and to pursue my career cannot happen.
Mountview would provide me with unparalleled training, exposure and open doors to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. The skills, experiences and connections gained would be invaluable and significantly enhance my career prospects of getting into the West End and beyond!
I am determined to get there and it is my sincere hope and prayer that you can consider helping me to bridge the gap. It would mean the world to me. Thank you!
My Bio:
I adore Musical Theatre - watching, performing and studying it - and am excited to continue my training at degree level and onto it as a career.
I come from a musical family and have been influenced by my mum's love for musicals and my Dad's work as a professional actor. He got me interested in acting by showing me films with songs, including Disney and particularly High School Musical!
Age eight, I joined The Television Workshop, a weekly acting group through which I had the opportunity to audition for TV, film and theatre. I also joined an agency age ten where I found work in commercials and modelling.
Paid acting roles included Emmerdale as Young Cain Dingle, nominated as best episode at the British Soap Awards. Also brand ads including Asda, Haribo, KFC, Lego, Star Wars, Robinsons, Tesco, Travel Republic and a Morrisons Christmas Ad. These last two TV Ads involved me singing as well.
In terms of professional theatre, I appeared in three productions at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester – ‘The Poisoner’ in ‘Hamlet’ with Maxine Peake, ‘Sonny’ in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' and their Christmas musical 'That Day We Sang' by Victoria Wood which was my biggest inspiration for pursuing this as a career. I was also in the BBC film of the same name with Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball. Working with all these fantastic actors encouraged me to audition for more roles and I carried the passion through school, performing in the school shows each year, building my confidence and drive. In lockdown, my creativity started to flow and I was writing songs on guitar and also teaching myself the piano. This improved my understanding of lyrics, as well as writing and recording music and I released and self-promoted my songs, performing them at gigs. Alongside this I studied and achieved distinction in a RSL Diploma in the Creative Music Industry in Performance.
I have further developed my music theory, sight reading and vocal skills being part of the Halle Youth Choir. I was also part of the Halle Children's Choir for four years, performing in professional concerts and other events, involving various genres of music. I also had singing lessons at school until achieving Grade 6. I was invited to be part of the Greater Manchester Youth Show Choir (GMYSC) for six years, performing sections of musicals with movement and dance, as well as acting through song. After performing at The Bridgewater Hall many times with the Halle and GMYSC over the years, I decided to audition to study Musical Theatre at Pendleton College with some of the same amazing teaching staff.
At college, I have been trusted with leading roles and performed in the Pendleton Season of Shows, most recently ‘Action’ in ‘West Side Story’. I have had many other opportunities too, such as performing at the AO Arena, Old Trafford, Clare College Cambridge, on a cast recording and a BBC theme tune. I also perform as part of the college Consort of Voices and the Chamber Choir. Pendleton College has been the perfect place to improve my craft of acting and singing, as well as, after performing street dance for several years, adding a new string to my bow with jazz, ballet and tap. I am predicted to complete the course with Distinction*s.
Outside of college, I did a two week run last year playing ‘Sonny’ in 'Grease' at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. This gave me insight into the eight shows a week stamina needed in professional theatre. This year I did the same playing ’The Artful Dodger’ in 'Oliver’.
Due to entering the acting industry at such a young age, it has made me appreciate the love of performing, as well as the hard work and sacrifice that it demands. Over the years I have pushed myself in every area of the field. I am very committed and self-motivated, balancing college, choirs, performing, part-time work, voluntary work, hobbies and watching theatre to learn from others. I want to keep enjoying what I do, keep entertaining and keep learning, as I continue to study and dedicate myself to making a career in this industry.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and for considering supporting my journey.
Please share with others who may be interested :)
Thank you greatly
James Prentice
Organizer
James Prentice
Organizer