Ben Weirheim

Ben was born in 1977, Perth, Western Australia to visual artist mother Kerry (Australian) and architect father Joost (Dutch). Drawn to drama and dance during his school years, at 14 Ben joined his high school dance team to compete in national dance competition the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge where he and his ensemble won the state Grand Final. DJing at parties and Nightclubs, Ben went on to study Broadcasting at Academy of Radio in Perth and filled subsequent guest spots as live DJ/Announcer at Perth community and commercial radio stations. Ben moved to Brisbane, Queensland in 2008 and commenced an Advanced Diploma of Arts - Acting, at Southbank Institute of Technology focusing on the world of Theatre, it's history, theory, practice and icons such as Stanislavski, Grotowski, Chekov, Brecht and Artaud while learning vocal techniques and movement training consisting of the rigorous Suzuki Method of Actor Training. In 2010 Ben left to begin a Bachelor Degree in Contemporary & Applied Theatre at Griffith University. Touring internationally with THE ILLUSIONISTS as stunt-actor and stage technician (2001 - 2013), Ben maintained a strong focus on screen acting, his numerous screen credits include mercenary role Sixer in Spielberg TV series Terra Nova (2011), comedic role as Cogzy in gangster comedy Nice Package (2013), and the physically demanding role of boxer Derrick Langley for Noir feature The Silent City. In mid 2015 he performed a lead role in Perth Writer/Director Tom Jeffcote's Armour at Perth's Blue Room Theatre and appeared as an undercover cop in a segment for Australia's prime-time airing current affairs show for Australia's prime time and nationally airing current affairs show Sunday Night entitled To Catch a Killer. Ben is currently undertaking roles in Perth-based films as he studies Broadcasting and Stage Combat to complete his Performing Arts degree at the renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Turning his focus to writing, Ben is currently expanding his solo theatre performance Awakenings (2015) with a view to touring it internationally and devising a subversive and satirical new work with Perth-based theatre makers for Fringe Festival 2017.