Nelya Valamanesh

Nelya is an Adelaide-based narrative artist, who has developed and produced works on range of different platforms including: radio programming, DJing, co-facilitating theatre workshops, freelancing in the film industry, currently in development on her new web-series which has received funding from South Australian Film Corporation and workshopping a new idea for theatre with funding from South Australian State Theatre. 

During her BA in English and Creative Writing, she worked on a postgraduate project which crossed the gap between live performing arts and virtual reality, studied Italian storytelling and film at the University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy and was chosen to travel to Malaysia as a part of the New Columbo Plan to write poetry and connect with local students. Several of these creative pieces have been published and displayed in exhibitions and university publications.

During her time at ActNow Theatre, Nelya has worked on many projects including; Theatre of the Global Majority and Responding to Racism. She was also an Associate Producer through their Theatre of the Global Majority program which helps create pathways for culturally diverse people in the arts sector. 

Nelya’s vision through all her creative avenues has been to speak her truth as a proud queer Persian/Australian woman and to be an ally to many unspoken voices of colour in Australia’s film and theatre industries.

For links to her work and more info please go to www.nelyavalamanesh.com