From the time Tristan James set foot on stage as ‘Kenickie’ in the Empire Theatre’s production of Grease The Musical in 2005, to playing the loveable hippy ‘Buddy’ in We Will Rock You, his reputation as a physically comedic and self confessed over actor was secured.
Tristan found a fond love for acting at school, studying Drama in his senior years, participating in school musicals, as well as helping form the Toowoomba Grammar Acting Academy (TiGAA), which this year celebrates 20 years of helping foster students love of acting, and prepare them for tertiary auditions and study.
Although Tristan has no tertiary training in acting, singing or musical theatre, this hasn’t stopped him from pursuing these passions for the last two decades. Starting as a children’s entertainer in his early 20s, Tristan went on to sing in several bands, at concerts and in a number of community choirs, outside of performing in musical theatre. He is also an accomplished DJ, having toured around Australia playing at major festivals and events. Since returning in 2017 to Toowoomba where he grew up, Tristan has never been busier.
Some of his show credits include The Wiz, Anything Goes, Grease The Musical, Pirates of Penzance, Kinky Boots, My Fair Lady and Mamma Mia, where he starred in the principle role of Bill Austin. In 2022 Tristan James was cast in the Empire Theatre production of We Will Rock You as fun loving hippy Buddy, a role which won him resounding praise and accolades.
Stage Whispers wrote: “Special mention must go to Tristan James as Buddy for his effortless comic timing and crowd-pleasing local in-jokes. He also managed to raise a tear or two in an emotional ‘These are the days of our lives’. Audiences will love deciphering his rock malapropism.”
Tristan studied acting at the Loic Valmy Broadway Academy in Brisbane in 2021.
