From Manila dreams to the West End spotlight, how Joaquin Pedro Valdes built a stage presence that shines beyond borders

Valdes’ origin story could easily be mistaken for a plot twist. He didn’t land in London with credentials from prestigious drama schools; instead, his ticket to the West End was an understudy offer in Miss Saigon. This was his crash course—or as he calls it, his “drama school in practice”.

“I was planning to go to the UK because I got offered a spot in a drama school. When the Miss Saigon offer came, I asked my wife, and she said, ‘Well, you’re going to study to get a job like this.’ So it turned out that Miss Saigon was like my drama school,” Valdes recalls. “It really taught me a lot, and I found my vocal coach, my acting coach, and my manager.”

Early on, however, he grappled with competition and doubts about his lack of formal training. “Some of the actors have studied in prestigious drama schools for three, four years, so I felt insecure,” he says. A turning point came when veteran actor Clive Rowe offered him this advice: “Just be yourself and come into it with whoever you are, and that’s going to be more impactful.”

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Taking this to heart, Valdes began to view his Filipino values and cultural heritage not as obstacles but as unique advantages that set him apart onstage. He explains, “We’re hard-working. It will take a lot for us to be uncomfortable. And I think that’s an advantage—stamina, grit, resilience—all of that has been something I take with me.”

These core values shaped his approach to acting, grounding him with a perspective he now sees as essential to his craft. “We also like wearing our hearts on our sleeves–sometimes that’s good, sometimes not so good.”

“With at least eight shows a week, we need to be able to repeat the same level of authenticity,” he says, underscoring the challenges theatre actors face. “Once we get into a rehearsed routine, we get so rigid, and the best performances are the ones that are actually spontaneous and feel in the moment.”

For Valdes, theatre is about stripping away all artifice to reach authenticity. “The most interesting actors are the ones who aren’t self-conscious,” he says, his voice animated with conviction. “When you’re not concerned about how you look or sound, it’s about how truthfully you sing a song.”

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With each audition and role, he aligns his strengths, connecting with his characters through the lens of his Filipino identity and lived experience. Over time, his insecurities have faded, replaced by a determination to “show up”, as his wife, Agee, often reminds him. “She just reminds me of where we came from and the risk we took to come here,” he says. And show up he did, breaking barriers and proving himself through sheer skill and authenticity.

Behind Valdes’ success is the steady love and support of Agee, who is his anchor in a world of demanding schedules and unending expectations. Their shared journey is one of faith, resilience and the sacrifices they made for him to pursue his career in the West End.

“My proudest moment—it’s a recurring one—is when Agee gets to see me in every first show because I still remember when we both decided, in our small condo in the Philippines, that we’re moving to London,” he shared. “It was scary. It felt like everybody was saying, ‘What are you doing?’ It was a scary risk for us and only we understood it was the right decision.”

Their relationship is a foundation of trust, one that not only grounds his life but also shapes his art. Agee makes every performance count, sending him messages that remind him of their journey from Manila to London. “She sends me a message for every show I do. She was counting, ‘This is your first show out of 1,000s, second show out of 1,000s.’ Every night, I get a message reminding me of where we came from and what it means,” he says. Her words are a reminder of their sacrifices and the strength they both drew upon to make his dreams possible.

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Valdes also embraces a daily habit of gratitude and prayer, which centres him before each performance. “Every night is a message from my wife, and when I wake up, I say a prayer,” he shares. “I always thank God that I woke up, that I have air to breathe between my lungs, and that I’m with my wife. I pray His Will be done, whatever happens,” he reflects. “And I think I can say this because of the rejections. Whatever happens—whether it doesn't go the way you want—it’s still God’s will, and when you surrender yourself to that, then you just become more appreciative of everything.”

Valdes has found his place on the world stage, but his roots remain firmly grounded in his Filipino heritage. His advice to aspiring actors is simple yet profound: “Don’t let anyone clip your wings. If you have a dream, go for it – and work hard, harder than you ever thought possible.” 

While he’s now an established actor in London’s West End, Valdes holds a deep respect and hope for the Philippine theatre scene, envisioning a future where world-class production standards are accessible to Filipino audiences. He stresses that true progress demands technical refinement in every aspect of production. “Filipinos deserve that world-class production,” he says, emphasising that it’s not just about strong performances but also the polish that comes with high-quality sound, lighting and set design.

In London, he witnessed firsthand how top-tier productions elevate the audience experience with seamless technical execution, setting a standard he believes Filipino theatre could aspire to. “It’s all the technicals, the sound, the lighting design, the concept—it’s all of that polish,” he explains.

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During his recent visit to Manila, Valdes had the chance to catch several performances, including Bar Boys and Request Sa Radyo, featuring esteemed artists Lea Salonga and Dolly De Leon—both of whom he has admired throughout his career on the Philippine stage.

A particular instance Valdes recalls with a mix of humour and pride is seeing functional, carefully detailed props, even down to a well-constructed onstage bathroom, in the set of Request sa Radyo. “In Manila, yes, we deserve that kind of real toilet,” he laughs, alluding to the subtle but powerful details that enhance authenticity on stage. Such nuances, while seemingly small, shape an immersive environment where actors and audience members alike can fully engage with the story.

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Reflecting on this vision, Valdes acknowledges the strength of Manila’s talent and the fervour of its theatre community. “The Filipino deserves that standard,” he reiterates, adding that the local industry has the potential to match international benchmarks. But achieving this, he notes, requires investment, not just in training but in technical resources and infrastructure.

Valdes is quick to note that a committed audience base in Manila is also key to raising the standards of local theatre. “Filipino audiences are more difficult to please,” he shares, pointing out that talent is deeply embedded in the culture.

“Every Filipino can sing, so they know when something’s off… they wear their emotions on their sleeve, so when they don’t feel anything from the performance, they can tell.” This discerning nature pushes local productions to connect with audiences on a visceral level, a challenge that drives authenticity and depth on stage. 

Following his breakout role in Miss Saigon, Valdes hardly paused to catch his breath, leaping into a whirlwind of roles in The King and I, Fanny and Stella, Heathers: The Musical, Vanara The Legend, Killing The Cat, The Lion King, A Song of Songs, and the acclaimed ensemble production Then, Now & Next.

Even more dazzling were the projects that followed, with Joaquin landing career-defining lead roles in Death Note: The Musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures, and Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife, which just completed a celebrated run at the Menier Chocolate Factory last month. “Death Note was the biggest role that I was offered… it put me on the map,” he shares. Valdes recalls the buzz that swept through the city when the show premiered at London's Palladium Theatre. Fans lined up around the block, some flying in from across the globe to see the live adaptation of the beloved series. “It was surreal,” he says, describing how two generations of fans dressed in costume to witness the story come alive on stage.  

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Beyond the thrilling fanfare, Death Note held a special significance for Valdes because it was one of the first shows that Lea Salonga came to see him perform. “Lea came to see that show and it was a really special moment,” he reflects. For him, Salonga’s presence was more than a proud moment—it was an acknowledgement from one of his earliest role models.

Reflecting on his journey, Valdes emphasises that his success came through embracing his unique identity and experiences. “I might not be the tallest in the room… or the most handsome, but just be who you are, and that’s what they want to see,” he says, recalling the liberating power of authenticity. 

From Manila’s vibrant stages to London’s iconic West End, his story reminds us that true artistry transcends borders—and that sometimes, breaking barriers is as simple as shedding self-doubt and leaning into his individuality.

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