From Radford to Movie Magic: Meet Tom Berger (Class of 2020), Canberra’s Prop-Making Visionary

Tom made a name for himself in prop design while still a student at the College – long before the first mention of him in the media.

In 2019, he volunteered to build ‘Audrey II’, the infamous Venus flytrap for the College production of Little Shop of Horrors. Working late into the night and skipping the occasional class as the deadline drew nearer, he ultimately brought the prop to life.

To this day, Radford’s production still uses his creation which has even travelled to other schools for their performances.

That early project demanded more than passion: it required vision, structural thinking, and a lot of grit.

Tom’s most recent project is a bespoke beard trophy for Canberra’s Beard Competition, held annually at King O’Malley’s Irish Pub in Civic. This gleaming trophy features a 3D-printed golden beard mounted on a wooden base, with a brass panel to record future winners’ names.

Mitch Mee – the winner of this year’s competition – is the first to have his name engraved on it. Tom hopes to see many more names added in years to come.

Tom’s currently applying for a competitive course in Sydney in pursuit of a career in prop making, with ambitions to work in TV and film. ‘I’ve been making stuff for as long as I can remember … It’s my joy in life.’

Photo Credit: Riot ACT

Content Credit: Region Canberra