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'If I can do Les Mis, I can do anything!'
AS a schoolboy, his confidence was left in tatters after being targeted by bullies – and performing on stage was just a distant dream.
AS a schoolboy, his confidence was left in tatters after being targeted by bullies – and performing on stage was just a distant dream.But just four years on, Paul Masters now has an impressive CV, with lead roles in several city productions under his belt, and now boasts another achievement.
Proving the doubters wrong, the 19-year-old budding theatre star has landed a place at the prestigious London School of Musical Theatre after impressing judges with his singing and dancing skills.
But, as a 15-year-old, things for the bubbly teenager were far from perfect.
Teased for being overweight and being more passionate about musicals than football, the Sawtry youngster's self-esteem plummeted.
He even half-heartedly enrolled in a mechanics course, believing that his goal of entering showbiz was out of reach.
But when a chance to sing in Les Miserables in Spalding came up, he grabbed it with both hands.
He even changed his course at Peterborough Regional College from mechanics to performing arts.
Despite his dedication and talent, landing a coveted place at a top stage school comes at a cost – and in order to fulfil his dream, Paul needs to raise the 12,600 course fees before July.
So with a little help from his friends, he is staging a concert at the city's Key Theatre to help him secure some of the cash.
He said: "When I was younger, I was always a big fan of musical theatre, but never had that much confidence.
"I didn't have a great time at school. I was bullied because I was overweight."
But one day he accompanied his father Andrew, who is a sound engineer, to a theatre and his luck changed.
"In Spalding, they were doing a version of Les Miserables. At the age of eight, I'd fallen in love with the show," he said.
"They were struggling to find the lead role and they knew I could sing, so they asked me to audition.
"They were really pleased and asked me to join.
"As soon as I had done my GCSEs, I went straight into rehearsals.
"During a moment on stage, I thought that if I could do Les Mis, I could do anything."
His father also remembers that evening as an emotionally-tinged night, because he knew how far his son had come.
He said: "I was amazed – I didn't know he could sing like that.
"I was bowled over – it was such an emotional night."
Paul is now concentrating on making his fund-raising show, Sing! pitch perfect.
If you would like to enjoy an evening with Paul and his friends and support his plans for the future, tickets are on sale now.
The show is at the Key Theatre, in Peterborough, on Friday, May 8, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 10 or 8.50 concessions.
For tickets, call 01733 207239 or book online at www.peterboroughkeytheatre.co.uk
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