James graduated in 2013 from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music Theatre).

At 13 years of age James was forced by his mother to be in the school production of Les Misérables. He had the time of his life and this paved the way for his future.

James also attended the Christchurch Musical Theatre Summer School in 2014 and 2016, gaining in depth tutelage from legends such as Sutton Foster and Andrea Burns.

His performance credits include: WestEnd to Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Dusty (Musical Theatre Dunedin); Flagons and Foxtrots (Fortune Theatre); Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice (The Ugly Shakespeare Company); Crash Bash (Christchurch City Council); Keep Dunedin Beautiful (Dunedin City Council); Hair, Joseph K, Guys and Dolls, Black Rock, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and CATS (NASDA); Wicked and Les Misérables (Showbiz Christchurch); and Jesus Christ Superstar (The Court Theatre).