People: David Jonson

We first met David Jonson years ago when we were razzledazzling in Ibiza pretending to be the next go-going sensation. It was in Tom’s Bar, (behind Abercrombie Alley) – a bar that was noted for some of the finest bad drag acts on earth and some even worse free cocktails. David was a singer and dancer who, like us, had escaped to the island with the promise of a better life through after-hours discos and 24/7 clubbing. He lived downstairs with a drag-act superstar while I lived upstairs in a flat with no furniture and no roof. Beverley Hills eat your heart out.

David’s a singer and performer and run’s his own entertainment company – ELA Productions – and has just released his first single;

Name: David Jonson

Age: 30

About you:

I grew up in Liverpool and had always wanted to perform but was always the fat kid in school but at the age of 16 got a place in a dance and drama college

How did you get into performing?

After studying a 3 year musical theatre course I was signed to various agents and then got signed to do some modelling and it just carried on from there. I was trained in musical theatre so covered singing, dance and drama and had worked on various musical tours including Grease and 42nd Street as well as many touring pop shows. I have also been backing dancer for house diva’s Soraya Vivian and Kelly Llorenna and have a large background in teaching dance and drama. I was then approached to do the vocals for Temptation and thought it would be a good change in my career.

You made a massive change to your life when you were younger. How did that come about?

when I started college I was to be told I would need to lose weight ( well I was 26 stone( not a pretty sight))lol I then started college and over the 3 years I was there I lost 12 stone which was a great help to both my confidence and my career. One of the biggest challenges to get over was people’s attitudes because I was so HUGE and I was never taken seriously as a performer – well maybe just for the fat roles!

After losing the weight, I had the same agents who were turning me down before when I was big trying to sign me. It told me not to be shallow – but it’s also part of the industry and you just get used to it. But it’s also taught me never to judge people by the way they look. It’s fine to be attracted to someone, but that’s not a basis for a great friendship. I’m lucky to have some great friends around me and I value them completely.