INFORMAL - AN INTERVIEW SERIES
JOAQUIN PEDRO VALDES
Filipino actor and singer Joaquin Pedro Valdes is a high energy musical theatre performer with many credits to his name including Heathers, Death Note: The Musical and Then, Now and Next.
He is currently starring as Luke in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at The Other Palace and will shortly be appearing in the world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock Presents at Theatre Royal Bath before returning to the Philippines where he'll be a part of a brand new staging of Into The Woods.
I caught up with Joaquin between performances on a busy two show day as he headed into his final week with the company: "It's been a great journey but now I'm closing the Percy Jackson chapter and moving on and am in rehearsals for Alfred Hitchcock Presents which has been amazing."
The show is directed by John Doyle and Joaquin speaks very highly of him and his process: "Just being in the same room as him, even watching him work with the other actors - who are all incredible - it just feels like 'once in a lifetime' special. I'm always grateful to be working but there are some jobs and some moments in your career when you pinch yourself and realise that you've been given a really special opportunity."
You can really feel Joaquin's love for the piece and the warmth in which he talks about the music is endearing: "The music is written by Steven Lutvak who unfortunately passed away last year. It's really clever and intelligent. Proper musical theatre writing. When I first heard the music I thought oh my god, this is incredible."
It is wonderful to hear someone talk with such passion about a project they're working on: "The calibre of talent involved in this piece is mind blowing. This is British musical theatre at its finest... even if I say so myself! It's incredible to be a part of."
Joaquin is known for his performances in musical theatre but he also has a love of straight drama and I wondered the sort of roles he'd like to play: "I would like to do some Shakespeare. If I could be part of a repertory company it would be absolutely amazing. To do Shakespeare in the UK, at the National Theatre or the Globe, I could retire and be absolutely content. It would be a complete journey for me. I'd love to do more classical pieces. I like to do physical theatre too so to do one these modern takes on Greek tragedies would be really nice. It's free to dream after all."
With all these aspirations of future work, I asked Joaquin what he would say is the highlight of his career so far: "I have to say that it is Alfred Hitchcock Presents. My company manager teases me because she says that every time I'm in the room I have this smile that I can't wipe off my face, even if I'm just listening at the side of the room. I'm just so happy and excited to be there because just watching a master (John Doyle) who is just so incredible at his craft and who creatively commands the space is an absolute joy. So many times I go home from rehearsal and think about how lucky I am to be part of this. It feels like I've waited more than two decades to get to where I am with him in that room, so it has to be my career highlight for sure. Whether the show will be received well by critics or audiences, I don't know, but the process has been so fulfilling."
His passion for this piece is so evident from how he is talking about it that I wanted to stop the interview so I could book tickets there and then!
Not one to rest on his laurels, later this year Joaquin will be returning to the Philippines for Into The Woods which I'm sure will be a momentous occasion for him: "This feels like a milestone for me because I haven't performed in the Philippines since I left and moved to the UK to build a life and career over here eight years ago."
I wondered how his return to his homeland had come about: "I was invited by a new theatre company called Theatre Group Asia, and I think their vision is to bring Filipino creatives and performers who have succeeded in the industry on the world stage, on Broadway and in the West End, and bring that level of excellence back to the Philippines as well as recognising their own local talent and pooling it all together."
It sounds like it was a no-brainer for Joaquin to accept a part in this production: "This is not an opportunity you just let pass by. This is Sondheim, with a full orchestra playing Into The Woods and I get to play Prince Charming and the Wolf in Manila. This means that my family and my friends get to see me perform. It's emotional and is a really special project for me and I'm so excited."
Joaquin also offers Musical Theatre Mentorship and I asked him about this: "I've had mentors in the past that were really kind to me and saw something in me and felt like I could take it to the next level, and they guided me through that journey. I was chatting with my wife about it and I just really wanted to give that back."
I'm sure that having someone like Joaquin guiding you into the industry would be invaluable and I was intrigued how the idea had manifested itself: "The audiences here in London for The Lightening Thief are obviously full of people who are fans of the books, movie etc, but there's also so many musical theatre kids and they line up at the stage door and talk about how they were impacted by the show and how they are also pursuing the craft of being an actor. This made me realise that I'd like to give something back and I'd like to pass on the knowledge from my experience. I frame it as a mentorship because a mentor really wants someone to succeed and it goes beyond just the skill aspect of the craft, and it is acting and vocal coaching, but I'm there if you need to chat after a rejection. The industry is hard and things such as mental health takes a hit. It's about giving a genuine and authentic guide to someone as they try and persue their dream."
On that note I asked Joaquin how he manages looking after himself and his mental health on a day to day basis, especially at the moment when he's rehearsing one show during the day and performing another one in the evenings: "I have an incredible partner. My wife is my rock, my anchor. She doesn't mince her words and she tells me when I'm pushing too hard, when I need to rest and when I'm not being helpful or healthy to myself. I don't think I have an objective view of myself and I'm always going to find something wrong with me, something imperfect. I don't have a genuine opinion of my voice because physiologically we cannot hear ourselves as others hear us, so my wife gives me that outside, third party, objective opinion. She will tell me if I'm burning the candle at both ends and she helps to ensure that I get all the vitamins and the rest that I need. More than that though she just holds my hand, and challenges me in the best way"
Joaquin has an infectious joyous energy and is so passionate about his craft, which always comes across in spades when he's on the stage. Check out his instagram @joaquin.pedro.valdes where you can keep up to date with all his latest work and find links to his linktree landing page and his Musical Theatre Mentorship.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS Theatre Royal Bath
22nd March - 12th April
Interview conducted by Neill Kovacic-Clarke for Pink Prince Theatre on 23/02/25
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