Get James to London

Kia ora! I'm James Buchanan. I'm an actor. Recently I was accepted into 'ArtsEd' (the Arts Educational Schools) - a musical theatre school in London whose president Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and alumna Dame Julie Andrews and Sarah Brightman are household names throughout the theatre world. I auditioned by video in November and was accepted overnight, selected from hundreds of New Zealand applicants. I will be heading to London on September 1st to pursue a three year Bachelor of Arts in Professional Music Theatre. The study at ArtsEd will help prepare me for my dream of a career on London's West End and hopefully Broadway.

I have been performing since I was nine years old, making my professional debut at age 14 in the Court Theatre Season of 'Anything Goes'. Since starting out performing in Kapa Haka, I have  amassed a wide variety of experience including dance, instrumental and vocal music, conducting and more recently specialist training in acting and singing in musical theatre. I first heard about the 'ArtsEd' programme while working with West End musical director Mark W. Dorrell while attending the Christchurch New Zealand Musical Theatre Summer School in January 2014. 

Before I leave for London in September, I am hosting 'London Calling': a Fundraising Concert at the Charles Luney Auditorium on Sunday 26th July at 4pm to help raise funds for my course fees and living expenses. The entire three year costs will total NZ$200,000 with equal costs for living and studying. I am very fortunate to already have the support of Opes Partners, the Todd Trust, the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and Ng?i Tahu along with many friends and family to whom I am very grateful. If I am to truly make this incredible opportunity a possibility, there's still a lot further to go.

Of course my intention is to eventually return to New Zealand and share the world-class knowledge I have gained with young performers and to help them achieve similar goals if possible.

Thank you for taking the time to view this page and I hope it has left you wanting to make an investment in my dream. If you've taken an interest in my story and you'd like to track my progress before I leave and while I am in London, regular updates will be posted on my website: getjamestolondon.com

Thanks!