Valentin's introduction to the art of 'creating spectacle' came in his late teens via circus theatre group Laughter In The Garden. Combining elements of Commedia dell'arte with Gothic-inspired improvisation, this experimental troupe encouraged him to explore all aspects of stage craft and design and to find within himself his own "humanity."
Aged twenty-one Valentin moved to London, working first at BBC Costume and then moving into the field of PR, staging and promoting events for the capital's music and fashion industries. These microcosmic pieces of theatre put him into close contact with a range of creative players who broadened his artistic vocabulary and over the coming years as an artist in his own right, he remained mindful of the power of spectacle when staging his exhibitions. In 2009 he was welcomed into the heart of Lisbon's Teatro Ingles community and began to explore drama production proper, tackling a variety of roles with companies including The Lisbon Players, Produçoes Prospero and Feltro Preto.
THE MAN OUTSIDE by Wolfgang Borchert. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Valentin was invited by German director Rebecca Steingraber to design and co-direct Wolfgang Borchert’s Expressionist drama, 'The Man Outside'. Originally billed as 'the play nobody wants to make and nobody wants to see', it portrays a shell-shocked German soldier returning home after the war. Valentin's single set featured multiple scenic quarters representing a destroyed city and neighbourhood. His costumes combined threadbare 1940s glamour with dramatic allegorical pieces created with seamstress Liz Day.
HAMLET by William Shakespeare. Valentin designed the set and costumes for the Lisbon Players production directed by Jonathan Weightman. The drama is set in a timeless period but the costumes hint at 1940s glamour. The use of bold, dominant nationalistic symbols and industrial slab-like rostra, paint Elsinor Castle as overshadowed by the threat of war. The single set format creates a sense of claustrophobic tension, with a spiral representing 'this mortal coil'.
Giving rise to many fruitful collaborations, theatre became the crucible of Valentin's creativity, and on moving to Fishguard (Wales) in 2018, his experience and colour was welcomed by the town's colourful residents and its local theatre. For the next five years he worked for the benefit of the community, engaged in producing and directing music projects, developing arts initiatives, and working with multiple venues and organisations to stage and promote live entertainment & events. After a long absence Valentin himself also returned to performing, bringing his artistic career full circle.
