In early Summer 2009 Thamesmead based property developer Tilfen Land teamed up with Greenwich Theatre to launch a pioneering Junior Artist in Residence programme at the theatre.

One year on Tok Laju, one of the successful applicants to the scheme, has not only secured a place on a full time two year acting course - at the end of July he is set to perform in Greenwich Theatre's flagship outdoor summer show, a key part of the borough's Cultural Olympiad celebrations.

Tok said "I was so proud when I was chosen to be one of Greenwich Theatre's Junior Artists last year, but I never thought that so much of my life would change in such a short time."

Last September, after working with the theatre for just a few months, Tok was accepted by the Miskin Theatre at West Kent College to study performing arts. Earlier this year he was selected by the team at the Miskin to take the lead role in their production of Shakespeare's Pericles. Now the seventeen year old from Plumstead is set to join a professional cast of actors from Greenwich Theatre for THE FINDERS - a magical new fairytale taking place at Well Hall Pleasaunce in Eltham at the end of July.

"I've learnt so much working with Greenwich Theatre and at the Miskin, but preparing for this style of show is a new experience again" he continued. "The whole show is devised in the park, so on the first day of rehearsal there is no script and we all put our ideas in. I had a glimpse of this last year when I worked with the theatre on their summer show in Charlton, but this year I'm in from the beginning. I can't wait to see what audiences think of the final show!"

James Haddrell, Director of Greenwich Theatre, said "it has been a huge privilege working with Tok. He has changed so much over the last year, and is working so hard to become the very best actor he can be. Last year he had almost no awareness of drama or of this industry, but he is fast becoming one of the most talented young actors I've worked with. Without his dedication, and the vital sponsorship of the scheme which we receive from Tilfen Land, none of this would have happened."

The Greenwich Theatre/Tilfen Land Junior Artist in Residence scheme exists to enable talented young performers to access professional training and performance opportunities which would otherwise be out of their grasp. 

In the last year Junior Artists have led workshop auditions, performed with a professional company on stage at Greenwich Theatre, taken part in an Olympic inspired drama devising programme with Tara Arts and benefited from a range of mentoring and personal development sessions with theatre staff.

Tilfen Land’s Sonia Treleaven said: “We are delighted to see that all the hard work put in by Tok and by Greenwich Theatre has paid off. He is a talented young man with a bright future and Tilfen Land is delighted to have played a part in helping him both realise his potential and seize opportunities.”

THE FINDERS, the main feature in Greenwich Theatre's borough wide Inspiring Spaces programme, plays at Well Hall Pleasaunce in Eltham from Friday 23 - Sunday 25 July.

Tickets are free but due to limited capacity they must be booked in advance on 020 8858 7755 or in person at Greenwich Theatre.

-ends-

July 8, 2010

For all press enquiries, please contact James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre Executive Director, on 020 8858 4447 or David Leck at Tilfen Land on 01322 528580/07710 326256

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