"I became fascinated in light and colour theory which lead me into theatre design."

Hometown
London

What do you do?
Lighting Designer (Freelance)

Have you got qualifications?
Yes, BA (Hons) Theatre Practice (Lighting Design) from the Central School of Speech and Drama

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
I went to drama school when I was 19, so only had a year between leaving sixth form college and starting to work in theatre. Over this year my sole plan was to earn money to put myself through the next three years of education.

I spent this year’s work in a restaurant in Leeds and although it wasn’t a theatre, it really firmed up wanting to get into theatre.

How did you make the move to working in theatre?
I have always wanted to work in theatre as a designer. I trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in Lighting design. Whilst training I shadowed many professional lighting designers and worked in many theatres for free. I guess the rest is history…

What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was younger I wanted to be a pilot. Whilst getting my head around the physics part of the job I became fascinated in light and colour theory which lead me into theatre design.

What do you do all day?
I spend most of my days either at home creating paperwork, in a rehearsal room designing the show or in the theatre teching.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The creativity and working with a wide variety of people

And the worst?
The hours. You spend a lot of days working until 10pm so gives you a restricted personal life.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Lighting designer!

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Take every opportunity you are given to watch other practitioners and learn from them.