Lighting designer
Steve Barnett
36
As a child, lighting designer Steve Barnett, 36, dreamed of being Tinkerbell in the stage show of Peter Pan. Once he'd learned that the fairy friend was actually created by a followspot, he knew his future lay in stage lighting.
"Be nice to people. Be on time. Work really hard"
Hometown
From Lightwater, Surrey. Currently living Peterborough. Moving to Nottingham soon, hopefully.
What do you do?
Self-employed lighting designer
What was your very first role in theatre?
YTS (Youth Training Scheme–now replaced by Apprenticeships and National Traineeships) theatre technician
So what have you done in the theatre?
I started off as a trainee technician and projectionist at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking and then moved to the Redgrave as assistant technician, working on all aspects of production lighting, sound and building maintenance. From there I became a production electrician for a touring show and a year later, deputy chief electrician at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.
Next stop was lighting technician at the National Theatre, where I stayed for nine years and first lighting technician at the Royal Shakespeare Company. I then left and set up on my own as a lighting designer.
I have worked on the basketball musical Slamdunk, Warriors at the London Planetarium and Futurology at the National Theatre of Scotland.
Have you got qualifications?
The usual school stuff and then a City and Guilds 236 (electrical installation) Pt 1.
What did you do before you worked in theatre?
Worked in the same factory as my dad for six weeks after leaving school and absolutely hated it! I was meant to be there for three months, but I couldn’t hack it so I left and started my traineeship early.
Did you do work experience?
I arranged my own work experience during a half term holiday at a local theatre in Woking and I already had a YTS placement and college place arranged before I’d left school
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A fireman, like my grandad, or a follow-spot operator/lighting designer.
As a young child I’d been taken to see Peter Pan at the Barbican and I wanted to be Tinkerbell, which was done by a follow-spot.
I later achieved this dream working at the National (Theatre) where I was David Hersey’s assistant on Peter Pan.
What do you do all day?
Lighting shows, re-lighting someone else’s show on tour and lots and lots of driving
What’s the best thing about your job?
I love lighting, theatre and the people I work with
And the worst?
The hours. Not doing enough of my own lighting.
What’s your dream job in theatre?
Resident lighting designer in a well-funded theatre
Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Start at the bottom and work your way up. Learn the equipment and how to use it–and never stop learning the latest equipment. Be nice to people. Be on time. Work really hard.
