Born in Newhaven in Sussex, Bruce only became interested in “show business” when he left college at 18. After a six-week break with his sister Eve, who herself had had an opportunity to join the Young Generation, but decided to get married instead, he decided to embark on a dancing career.

In 1979 Bruce began training at the South East Theatre School in Hadleigh with Wendy Headford. His first professional role was as the inventor of the Can-Can, ‘Valentine de Sosse’ in the musical MOULIN ROUGE at the Theatre Royal, St Helens. Bruce went on to play many leading musical comedy roles including the part of  'Bud Flanagan' in UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES; 'Scrooge' in A CHRISTMAS CAROL ‘Ramble' in LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS; 'Rooster Hannigan’ In ANNIE; the title role in HANS ANDERSEN and ‘Timothy’ in SALAD DAYS.

In 1984 Bruce was invited to join the famous Players Theatre Company culminating in a Royal Command performance before HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

An experienced repertory actor, Bruce appeared in two seasons for the Northern Theatre of Comedy and four seasons with the English Theatre of Comedy. National tours include Mike Harding's NOT WITH A BANG; Dario Fo's CAN’T PAY?, WON’T PAY! and in the touring production of the Edgar Wallace thriller CASE OF THE FRIGHTENED LADY.  Bruce also co-starred with Crossroads actress Jane Rossington in the thriller MURDER IN MIND; with Faith Brown in the comedy MY FAT FRIEND and with Lorraine Chase in THE LATE EDWINA BLACK.

Bruce’s first love is comedy and appeared as Comic for 13 years in pantomime in Grays and at Bognor before doing one season as Dame alongside Eastender Letitia Dean and Melvyn Hayes [It Ain’t ‘Alf Hot Mum].

Following the formation of BRUCE JAMES PRODUCTIONS LTD. Bruce decided to take on more directing and has been responsible for the direction of over 100 Musicals, Comedies, Thrillers, Dramas and Pantomimes. Bruce takes a lot of pleasure in creating entertainment of the highest quality for theatre going audiences in theatres up and down the country.

Although spending most of his time directing these days, Bruce still finds himself on stage now and again from playing lead roles in SCROOGE – THE MUSICAL and SOUTH PACIFIC to some times understudying when actors are indisposed. Recently Bruce has been seen as Abanazer in ALADDIN; the Inspector in WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR TROUSERS? and Claude in A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS.

Probably Bruce’s strangest performance was in the thriller DEAD GUILTY by Richard Harris at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil where the leading lady went off ill some 20 minutes before curtain up. Undaunted by the problem faced, Bruce donned a costume hastily gathered together by his production crew and, after explaining the situation to a somewhat bemused audience set about playing the role.

Bruce now lives in Rayleigh with his girlfriend Rebecca. His passion for the theatre is matched by his love of Southend United, who he has followed since the age of 6 when his family moved up from Sussex.