The family of a talented Burnham-On-Sea boy who has been given a dream opportunity at a top London performing school are desperately trying to raise enough money to avoid him having to give up the oppoortunity.
Ben Kempton, 12, is a multi-talented performer who loves dancing, acting and singing.
He has appeared in Fame at Weston Playhouse and was part of the ensemble in a West End touring production of Oliver at Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year.
Ben, a King Alfred School student and member of Burnham and District Pantomime Society and Highbridge’s Curtain Call School of Performing Arts, has recently passed the regional auditions for Billy Elliot in London’s West End, and will have his next audition shortly.
He has also been offered a scholarship at the leading Barbara Speake Performing Arts School in London. There, he will get the opportunity to work with leading teachers in the industry, many of whom have had professional performing careers.
Ben’s scholarship will help him through the next four years from this September – but it only covers the cost of his tuition, not boarding fees, which are £7,000 a year.
His father Stephen told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Although Ben has won the scholarship, he still needs to board in London during term time.”
“As a family we are unable to find the funds to support Ben approximately £7,000 per year. We are therefore looking for any local charities or people who can point us in the right direction to help us get Ben into the place he really wants to be – on the stage making people smile.”
“The school needs an answer soon and if we cannot raise the money, he cannot go. We are therefore appealing to local businesses and charities or any individual or organisation which offers money to talented local children.”
To help, contact Stephen via stephen.kempton@hotmail.co.uk
