A FORMER Redditch student now working in London's West End is proving dreams can come true - with a bit of hard work

Sam Griffiths, who attended Kingsley College (now Tudor Grange Academy) as a performing arts student, is now producing his first professional national tour.

The 26-year-old works in the West End for the Ambassador Theatre Group (which own and operate the Birmingham New Alex Theatre).

He has just professionally produced his first show, the Wedding Singer, and it is running at the New Alex Theatre From May 23 until this Saturday, May 27 as part of huge tour.

The Wedding Singer is the comedy musical adaption of the hit Adam Sandler film.

It stars Ray Quinn, Ruth Madoc, Jon Robyns and Cassie Compton.

Sam said: "I started my performing arts training from an early age, I was a member of Break-a-Leg Theatre Company from the age of seven and was a very active member of Indigo Arts for my teenage years, where I performed in many a musical or concert and really honed my love for live entertainment.

"At Kingsley College I studied performing arts and had lead roles in their major school productions."

Since Kingsley, he graduated from Aberystwyth University with a BSc Econ in International Politics and Intelligence Studies, and led the student society to be the first student company to produce a full-scale musical at the Aberystwyth Arts centre.

"That was where I really got my bug for producing theatre," he said.

"I always knew that I wanted to create entertainment for people, and being the associate producer on The Wedding Singer for its UK and Ireland tour is a big part of realising my dream of being a producer.

"Its been a lot of hard work to get to this point in my career at the age of 26, including interning for seven months where I didn't get a salary (l was lucky that my parents could help) but hard work can get you anywhere you want in life."