GREENWICH THEATRE AND TILFEN LAND LAUNCH SEARCH FOR JUNIOR STARS
Following several years of discovering, nurturing and celebrating some of the best musical theatre performers from South and East London, Greenwich Theatre has renewed its partnership with Thames Gateway property investor and developer Tilfen Land to launch their latest initiative – the search for two young performers to work with the theatre for a full year as Junior Artists in Residence.
The year round programme of opportunities, which will be scheduled to run alongside the selected young performers’ education or employment, will range from performing on stage at Greenwich Theatre, participating in a range of professional training workshops and joining the professional company for the theatre’s Cultural Olympiad 2009 production at Charlton House in July 2009.
The companies are looking for two young people aged 14-19 who live or study in the London Boroughs of Bexley or Greenwich, and will be holding open auditions in June.
The selected young people will be contracted by Greenwich Theatre for 12 months, and thanks to financial support from Tilfen Land their access to training opportunities will all be free and their performances will be contracted and paid in line with the theatre’s Equity Apprenticeship programme.
James Haddrell, Director of Greenwich Theatre, said “It is always a privilege to work with the talented young people from the local area, whether we are helping them develop skills for the theatre industry, or using theatre to unlock their potential in other areas.
“However, one of the challenges is always to maintain a year round relationship with our participants, as each programme tends to be of a finite length. Thanks to Tilfen Land we will now be able to work with two young people on a rolling basis for a full year, making a real difference to their prospects and offering genuine support in their search for training or employment in this industry.”
Will McKee, chairman of Tilfen Land, said: “Our young people don’t always get the credit they deserve, but the talent, commitment and dedication demonstrated by many of them across artistic, academic and sporting pursuits is something we must support, nurture and celebrate.
“Tilfen Land is delighted to be working again with Greenwich Theatre and to be able to support this exciting new junior artists in residence programme.”
Auditions will be held at Greenwich Theatre on Friday 5 June. For more information, or to
book your audition place, contact Susan Winter, Greenwich Theatre Projects Co-ordinator
on 020 8858 4447.
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Notes to editors
Tilfen Land is a Thames Gateway property investor and developer with significant landholdings across the London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich. For further details visit www.tilfenland.co.uk
Greenwich Theatre is one of London’s premiere Off West-End theatres, presenting a year round programme of professional theatre alongside an ambitious programme of training and creative learning opportunities for young people. In 2007 the theatre was awarded the London Region Edge Award for the provision of vocational training.