Instructors

Lori Kokotailo

LORI KOKOTAILO is a BCFTA certified high school teacher for both Theatre and English, with a Bachelor of Education from UBC.  A trained actor, Lori holds a BFA in Acting from UBC, and has also studied acting in NYC (American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Lee Strasberg Theater Institute), LA (TVi Actors Studio) and Vancouver (Gastown Actors Studio with Mel Tuck, and various other classes & workshops).  Apprenticing at Pacific Theatre, Lori performed (A Bright Particular Star, The Hungry Season, Less Ado About Nothing, Broken Things, and the one-woman show River Bottom Baby) and also cast, co-produced and mounted a show of her own (Less Ado About Nothing – an abridged version of Shakespeare’s play, where she also played Beatrice).  Experiences acting, both on set and on stage, lead Lori to coaching other actors (amateur and professional youth and adults) for auditions.  Some recognition for her work: Lori received  The Florence Goodwin Theatre Award for her performance of Emily in Our Town, a Special Merit Award from Theatre BC for her performance of “Clear Glass Marbles” in Talking With, and a nomination by Canwest Comedyfest for her role in the short film Sarcasm Anon.

Megan Mackenzie

MEGAN MACKENZIE is an Alumni of Tarlington Training and a graduate of UFV with her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre. She also has trained extensively in film and television acting, taking courses with many institutions and casting directors. Megan works as a contracted stage director around Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and has directed over fifteen productions in the past seven years.  This season she is directing seven mainstage productions, and is currently in rehearsals for S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders” with Gallery 7 Theatre.  In the new year she is excited to focus on Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”, the popular fairytale “Cinderella” and her childhood favourite, “Narnia:  The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.”  Megan has fourteen years experience in community theatre, playing roles in over twenty-five productions including “Macbeth” (Lady MacDuff, UFV), “A Midsummer Nights Dream” (Peter Quince, AS), “Peter Pan” (Wendy Darling, G7), “The Canterbury Tales” (Emilie, UFV), “Sleeping Beauty” (Malificent, CO), “Snow White” (Witch Hexx, ACT), and “Hamlet” (Ophelia, UFV) among many others. In 2009, Megan adapted and directed, in association with Penguin Books Canada, a stage production of a Vancouver children’s novel, “Awake and Dreaming.” 

Richard Ian Cox

For over a decade, RICHARD IAN COX has been a senior instructor at Tarlington Training and is currently a co-drama teacher at South Delta Secondary School. Richard was one of Carole Tarlington’s top clients when she ran Tarlington Talent, the first agency in the lower mainland to represent children and teens when the industry was taking off (Tarlington Talent became Pacific Artists several years ago). Richard’s success as a young actor was unequaled in Canada, co-starring with the legendary Mickey Rooney in the television series based on The Black Stallion. Not only has he remained a successful actor as an adult (appearing in RV, Ghost Rider and Alive among many other film and television credits). Richard is also an in demand voice actor, best known for his lead work on the anime series InuYasha.

Sarah Sawatsky

SARAH SAWATSKY is a Senior Instructor at Tarlington Training with twenty years experience as a professional film, television and stage actor. She’s also been with us for over ten years. Her acting credits include principal roles on Cold Squad, X-Files, The Marshal, Lonesome Dove, Danger Bay and Northwood. Sarah has won three acting awards: the TV Week Award, YTV National Achievement Award In Acting and the Los Angeles Youth In Film Award for her lead role in The Girl From Mars. Sarah holds a BC Provincial Instructor Diploma. She has studied at both New York’s Circle In The Square Theatre School and the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia. Behind the camera, Sarah has directed two short films – Just Like Everybody Else for the Vancouver School Board and Being Elizabeth”for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vancouver.

Trevor Roberts

TREVOR ROBERTS has been working professionally in film, television and theatre for the past fifteen years. His roots began at the Vancouver Youth Theatre where he toured nationally and internationally. He has appeared in numberous television series and pilots in Vancouver, including DaVinci’s Inquest, The 4400, Psych, The Commish, The Odyssey, Sliders, Viper, Higher Ground, Rocky Times, and These Arms Of Mine. Trevor’s feature film credits include Scary Movie, Final Destination 2,  MVP: Most Valuable Primate, Angels In The Endzone and This Boy’s Life. He has appeared on screen with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Matthew McConnaughey. He is also a talented writer and film producer with three shorts completed and his first feature currently in development. Trevor has been at Tarlington Training for five years and is one of our senior instructors.

Levente Mihalik

LEVENTE MIHALIK is a Capilano University film school graduate, editor and film instructor. He attended Templeton Secondary school’s film program which is widely regarded as the best in British Columbia. He has had multiple success in student film festivals and in National video competitions. At Templeton Levente learnt a wide rage of skills that has landed him constant work in video production since the age of 14. Since Graduation he has continued to work at Templeton, running film related workshops and instructing Templeton’s after school film program. He has also worked at the Vancouver Film Studios in the editorial department. During the summer Levente runs Pacific Cinematheque’s Summer Visions film program, located at Simon Fraser University. Here at Tarlington he is the designated Technical Assistant and in-house editor/filmmaker.

Edward Foy

EDWARD FOY is an internationally-trained Australian stage and screen actor. He graduated BThA (With Distinction) from USQ’s actor-training program in Australia. With extensive experience in physical performance in a career that spans Shakespeare, action, musical theatre and sci-fi movies, Edward has taught workshops in Australia, the US and Canada. He is a proud member of SAFDi, the Society of Australian Fight Directors. Edward trained with Shakespeare and Co in the US, and returned to Australia in 2009 for a national tour of the Australian Helpmann Award-nominated production Kursk. He plays the lead in Robotopolis (2011) a sci-fi action thriller feature. Edward’s most recent television credits include guest starring roles on the Vancouver-shot episodics Sanctuary, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, Level Up and End Game. Edward Foy on IMDb

Nelson Wong

NELSON WONG is a Vancouver-based TV and Film actor most known for his regular role as the budding Private Investigator, Kenny Kwon, on Here TV’s Donald Strachey Mystery Series, and for his lead role as Det. Jeff Wong in Lifetime TV’s My Silent Partner directed by Ron Oliver.  Nelson works steadily in TV and has appeared in shows such as Fringe, Human Target, V, The L Word, and Psych. On stage, he has recently played Det. Cole in Diana Son’s Stop Kiss, directed by David C. Jones, and helped workshop and play the leads for two of playwright, C.E. Gatchalian’s world premiere’s (Broken, and Falling In Time, both with director Sean Cummings).  He is also a member of two local comedy troupes: The Bobbers, and Assaulted Fish.  For more information, search Nelson Wong on IMDb.com

Sean Bayntun

Graduating at the top of his class with a Master’s of Piano Performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas, SEAN BAYNTUN first started playing the piano at the age of three.  His past teachers include his father, George, with whom he studied until age 15, Dr. Robert Silverman (UBC), and Jon Kimura Parker (Rice).  At the age of 16 Sean made his orchestral debut with the White Rock Symphony Orchestra.  Two years later, he performed as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to a crowd of 10,000 at a special outdoor concert.  As well as over 300 first place standings in BC competitions, Sean won the Junior, Intermediate, Senior and National piano championships at the BC Festival of the Performing Arts.  At the 2002 Canadian Nationals in Lloydminster, Alberta, Sean was presented with the prestigious Blake Cherry Memorial Award, a special one-time-ever award for the most entertaining piano performance.  Shortlisted for a Jessie award for “Special Artistic Achievement” in his work on the musical song cycle Songs for a New World (Pacific Theatre), he also music directed Bat Boy: The Musical (Patrick Street Productions) and the Vancouver premiere of The Wild Party (Pint-Size Tall). Fluent in music styles ranging from early Classical to bubblegum pop, he believes that the process of learning music is one that should include not only a solid technical foundation, but excitement, exploration and enjoyment.  He currently teaches piano in Vancouver, holds the position of Musical Director for Ellesmere United Church at Simon Fraser University, and rocks out as the keyboardist in the indie rock group, The Armadilettantes.

Victoria Harraway

VICTORIA HARRAWAY is an actor and dancer who trained at Tarlington Training for eight years. Her screen credits include Projections and Bondage. Victoria has worked exstensivley on stage in theatre AND musical theatre. Playing in everything from Shakespeare to Gilbert and Sullivan, from Fame to A Midsummers Night Dream. Victoria directs the Very Young Performer programs at Tarlington and also teachers the Professional Acting Fundamental Courses. With years of experience and training, not just here at Tarlington but also with Casting Directors, (Stuart Aikens, Lynn Carrow, Coreen Mayrs & Heike Brandstatter) Dance (Free Flight School of Dance, Los Gitanos) and even Action-acting with Firearms! – Victoria is a quadruple threat!  A gifted teacher Victoria is also an award winning writer. (Oh and she’s a lifeguard too! with gold medals in competetive swimming!)