Rad Valance
Rad Valance
Actor
Rad is formerly a Melbourne-based actor, now breaking into the Brisbane acting scene. Rad fell in love with the theatre at a young age, performing within community and amateur theatre. They are currently in their first year majoring in Acting at QUT.
Biography
Rad began their acting journey at a very early age, starting their training at just six years old under the guidance of Debbie Keyt at Beaumaris Theatre School in Melbourne. They spent a majority of their younger years dedicating themselves to community theatre projects outside and inside school, with earlier roles within the teen ensembles of ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ (2016), and ‘Footloose’ (2017).
The role that solidified Rad’s love for acting however, was when they played the younger version of the lead role in ‘Flowers for Algernon’, ‘Charlie’ in 2016, which won them a Victorian Drama League award for ‘Best Actor in a Minor Role’. From then on, Rad was driven to continue on the path of the actor, studying plays and engaging in further community and highschool works.
Another notable performance cherished by Rad is the role of ‘Aldolpho’ from ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’, which they won a Lyrebird Award for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’. It wasn’t until Rad auditioned for and achieved a placement in the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School’s Acting Program, that they started really taking their career and future seriously. Through much pain, sweat and tears, they managed to, along with others, write an entire play based off of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel ‘The Master and the Margarita’ in year twelve on top of the already stressful normal high school study. Rad graduated with an acceptance proposal from QUT, as well as the schools prestiges Drama and Theatre Arts Award in 2021.
Ad Astra Plays
Upcoming Plays
Past Plays
Reviews
Rad Valance plays Tommy Boatwright, a role made famous by Jim Parsons in the play's film adaptation. Valance carries an unmissable presence during every moment he stands on stage. From his calm southern drawl and rational composure, to his transformative and emotive moments, Valance is precisely immersed in every moment of his character.
Michael James - Frooty Magazine | Read full review
The quartet at GMHC also included Rad Valance’s memorably sweet and funny Tommy.
Elise Lawrence - Backstreet Brisbane | Read full review
Rad Valance’s Tommy Boatwright ensures there is some Act One levity to lighten the emotional load. There is humour, too, in Ned’s self-sacrificing nervous first date interaction with Felix.
Meredith Walker - Blue Curtains Brisbane | Read full review
Rad Valance gives the character, Tommy, a Southern outsider, some wonderful laugh-out-loud moments with excellent comic timing.
Beth Keehn - Stage Whispers | Read full review
Rounding out the committee was Valance’s charming and empathetic depiction of Tommy. With a sweet Southern drawl, Valance had excellent comedic timing during the first act and then later, heartbreaking moments of resigned reflection as the death number continued to increase during the second act.
Annabel Gilbert - TheatreHaus | Read full review
The Ad Astra production shows great team work and sensitivity, the cast show moments of brilliance as they spell out the challenges and journey that were faced with as a community. For instance, Tommy Boatwright (Rad Valance) and Ben Weeks (Luke O Neill), show confidence and brilliance.
Lilian Harrington - Absolute Theatre | Read full review
Other Theatre
Flowers for Algernon - Little Charlie - 2016
Bye Bye Birdie - Ensemble - 2016
Footloose - Ensemble/Lyle - 2017
Shout!: The Legend of the Wild One - Deltone/Ensemble - 2017
War of Worlds - The Artilleryman - 2017
The Boy from Oz - Chris/Ensemble - 2017
The Wedding Singer - Robbie Heart - 2018
Across the Barricades - Kevin Mcoy - 2018
The Drowsy Chaperone - Aldolpho - 2019
The Master and the Margarita - Zheldybin - 2021
Almost Maine - Phil - 2021
Training
2009 - Beaumaris Theatre School - Debbie Keyt
2019 - Melbourne Actors Lab - Peter Kalos
2021 - The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School - Goran Banyai, Chris Button
2022 - Queensland University of Technology - Andrea Moor, Ros Williams
Awards
2016 - Best Actor in a Minor Role - Talbot Award
2016 - Best Actor in a Minor Role - Victorian Drama League
2019 - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Lyrebird Award
2022 - Theatre and Drama Award - VCASS