![Joshua Gadsby's picture](https://www.thealpd.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/profile_pic_160x160/public/pictures/picture-3271-1675983040.jpg?itok=y7ddqZhv)
Joshua Gadsby
Biography
My roots lie in lighting design for live performance, I work across theatre, opera, dance, and live art. I have a wide-ranging experience of designing for devised work, and as such, I am most at home in heavily collaborative environments and processes.
In the last seven years my practice has become increasingly transdisciplinary, often taking the form of co-designing set, costume, and lighting for live performance work, with long-term co-design collaborator designer Naomi Kuyck-Cohen. In 2021 we co-designed The New Diorama Theatre's refreshed public spaces. Followed swiftly by leading the concept development and design of NDT Broadgate, a revolutionary artistic development hub which offered space and resources for independent theatre makers completely free––whilst setting new standards for meanwhile space use.
I am drawn to performance projects that are heavily collaborative, allowing a deep focus on visual dramaturgy and interrogation of form. My lighting work is often characterised by a cinematic quality, combining the poetic nature of light with an urge to create images that feel immediate. Placing performers––both accessibly and confidently in bold scenographic worlds.
At its heart, my performance design work prioritises the intimate joy of sharing stories in a communal space.
I have varied experience in designing and delivering educational lighting workshops in both the context of drama schools and theatre outreach departments. Additionally, I have supervised and mentored students in a
range of training contexts.
- I am an Associate Artist of New Diorama, London.
- In 2016/2017 I was Laboratory Associate Lighting Designer at Nuffield Southampton Theatres.
- In 2017 I was shortlisted for A Stage Debut Award for Design.
- In 2019 I was awarded a bursary from MGCfutures to further support my creative development.
Previous productions
Previous productions
Show name | Type | Venue/Company | Role | Creative Team | Opened |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberation Squares | Theatre |
Nottingham Playhouse, then touring Nottingham Playhouse & Fifth Word in association with Brixton House |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Milli Bhattia Set designer: Tomás Palmer |
Apr 2024 |
Kiss Marry Kill | Theatre |
Touring, then touring Dante or Die |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Daphna Attias , Director: Terry O'Donovan Set designer: Sophie Neil |
Mar 2024 |
Dreaming and Drowning | Theatre | Bush Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Kwame Owsu Set designer: Tomás Palmer |
Dec 2023 |
Don Giovanni Teronio | Opera | Royal College Of Music | Lighting Designer |
Director: Louise Bakker Set designer: Becky-Dee Trevenen |
Nov 2023 |
The Extinction Trilogy: Monster Show | Theatre | Camden Peoples Theatre, then touring | Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Oct 2023 |
New Beginning | Theatre | Queens Theatre Hornchurch | Lighting Designer |
Director: David Shearing Set designer: David Shearing |
Aug 2023 |
Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles? | Theatre | Chichester Festival - Minerva | Lighting Designer |
Director: Diyan Zora Set designer: Anisha Fields |
Jun 2023 |
La cambiale di matrimonio | Opera |
Susie Sainsbury Theatre Royal Academy of Music |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sam Brown |
May 2023 |
Forge | Theatre | The Barbican Pit, then touring | Lighting Designer |
Director: Wendy Hubbard Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
May 2023 |
Who Killed My Father | Theatre |
Cumbernauld Theatre, then touring Surrogate Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nora Wardell Set designer: Blythe Brett and Hazel Low |
Apr 2023 |
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark | Theatre |
Webber Douglas Studio Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Christian Holder Set designer: Greta Dietz |
Mar 2023 |
The Winston Machine | Theatre |
Dartington Arts, then touring Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Mar 2023 |
Our Town | Theatre |
Silk Street Theatre Guildhall School of Music & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: John Haidar Set designer: Laura Ann Price |
Dec 2022 |
The Beauty Queen of Leenane | Theatre | Theatre By the Lake | Lighting Designer |
Director: Liz Stevenson Set designer: Natasha Jenkins |
Oct 2022 |
Alice in Wonderland | Theatre | Mercury Colchester | Lighting Designer |
Director: Emma Earle Set designer: Anisha Fields |
Aug 2022 |
The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Theatre |
Embassy Theatre Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Duguld Bruce-Lockhart Set designer: Will Hamilton |
Jun 2022 |
We Should Definitely Have More Dancing | Theatre | Oldham Colliseum, then touring | Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: Raz Shaw and Tatty Hennessey Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Jun 2022 |
Dane Nation | Theatre |
Embassy Theatre Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Marina Caldrone Set designer: Frencessca Granville |
Jun 2022 |
Blood Show | Theatre |
Cambridge Junction Hester Stefan Chillingworth |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: Hester Stefan Chillingworth Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
May 2022 |
Monster Show | Theatre |
Cambridge Junction Hester Stefan Chillingworth |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: Hester Stefan Chillingworth Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
May 2022 |
Who Killed My Father | Theatre |
The Tron, Glasgow Surragate Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nora Wardell Set designer: Blythe Brett and Hazel Low |
May 2022 |
Gulliver's Travels | Theatre | The Unicorn Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Jess Bernberg Director: Jaz Woodcock-Stewart Set designer: Rosanna Vize |
Mar 2022 |
The Winston Machine | Theatre |
The New Diorama Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Jan 2022 |
Robin Hood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest | Theatre |
Bristol Old Vic The Wardrobe Ensemble |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Tom Brennan + Helena Middleton Set designer: Anna Orton |
Nov 2021 |
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Theatre |
Curve Theatre, Everyman & Playhouse, then touring English Touring Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Almedia Set designer: Rosana Vize |
Sep 2021 |
The Cunning Little Vixen | Opera | Royal Northern College of Music | Lighting Designer |
Director: Sam Brown Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Dec 2020 |
I’m Not Dead, I’m Only Sleeping | Dance |
Dance Base, Edinburgh, then touring SweetShop Revolution |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Sallie Marie |
Aug 2020 |
Drown Your Empty Selves | Theatre |
Theatre By the Lake Theatre By The Lake |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kash Arshad Set designer: Ranya El Refeay |
Jul 2020 |
These Walls | Theatre |
Theatre By the Lake Theatre By The Lake |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Holly Race Roughan Set designer: Ranya El Refeay |
Jun 2020 |
Dinomania | Theatre |
59E59 - NYC Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen and Joshua Gadsby |
Jun 2020 |
Wilt | Theatre |
Theatre By the Lake Theatre By The Lake |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Liz Stevenson Set designer: Ranya El Refeay |
May 2020 |
Small Change | Theatre |
Omnibus Theatre Both Barrels |
Lighting Designer |
Director: George Richmond - Scott Set designer: Liam Bunster |
Apr 2020 |
The Government Inspector | Theatre |
Webber Douglas Studio Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anna Healy Set designer: Max Dorey |
Apr 2020 |
TRAINERS, or, the brutal unpleasant atmosphere of this most disagreeable season: a theatrical essay. | Theatre | The Gate Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: Hester Hester Chillingworth Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen and Joshua Gadsby |
Feb 2020 |
Half Life | Theatre |
Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury Tangled Feet |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kat Joyce and Nathan Curry Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Feb 2020 |
Half Life | Theatre |
ARC Stockton Tangled Feet |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kat Joyce and Nathan Curry Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Feb 2020 |
The Tyler Sisters | Theatre | Hampstead Downstairs | Lighting Designer |
Director: Abigail Graham Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Dec 2019 |
The Slightly Annoying Elephant | Theatre |
HOME Manchester Little Angel Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Samantha Lane Set designer: Ingrid Hu |
Dec 2019 |
No Place Like Home | Theatre | Camden People's Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Cam Carver Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
Nov 2019 |
In A Word | Theatre | Young Vic (Clare Studio) | Lighting Designer |
Director: Dadiow Lin Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Oct 2019 |
Half Life | Theatre |
Albany - Deptford Tangled Feet |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kat Joyce & Nathan Curry Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Oct 2019 |
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out | Theatre |
The Den The Royal Exchange in association with Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen and Joshua Gadsby |
Aug 2019 |
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out | Theatre |
Royal Exchange Manchester in association with Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Jul 2019 |
How to Keep Time: A Drum Solo for Dementia | Theatre |
Rich Mix, then touring Penned in the Margins |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Yael Shavit |
May 2019 |
The Slightly Annoying Elephant | Theatre |
Little Angel Theatre Little Angel Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Samantha Lane Set designer: Ingrid Hu |
May 2019 |
Fleischhacker / Meat-hacker (Research and Development) | Theatre | Guest Projects | Lighting Designer |
Director: Phoebe von Held Set designer: Sophie Jump |
May 2019 |
Cymbeline | Theatre |
Courtyard Theatre Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby with Sam Thomas Director: Ben Naylor and Anna Healy Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
Apr 2019 |
Trap Street | Theatre |
Schaubuhne Kandinsky for FIND 2019 |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen and Joshua Gadsby |
Apr 2019 |
Dinomania | Theatre |
New Diorama Theatre Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Feb 2019 |
Messiah Part 1 | Concert |
Porchester Hall The Little Orchestra |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nicholas Little Set designer: Luke W Robson |
Dec 2018 |
A Kettle of Fish | Theatre | The Yard | Lighting Designer |
Director: Caitlin McLeod Set designer: Ingrid Hu |
Sep 2018 |
The Laramie Project | Theatre |
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre ArtsEd |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Holly Race Roughan Set designer: Georgia De Grey |
Jul 2018 |
1972 The Future of Sex | Theatre |
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre ArtsEd |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Liz Bacon Set designer: Georgia De Grey |
Jul 2018 |
The Leftovers | Theatre |
The Unity, The Lowry, Northern Stage & Coventry Belgrade Sheep Soup Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adam Lenson Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
May 2018, May 2018, May 2018 |
Son of Rambow (Workshop) | Theatre |
The Other Palace Nuffield Southampton Theatres |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Samuel Hodges Set designer: Jasmine Swan |
May 2018 |
The Leftovers | Theatre |
The Unity, The Lowry, Northern Stage & Coventry Belgrade Sheep Soup Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adam Lenson Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
May 2018, May 2018, May 2018 |
The Leftovers | Theatre |
The Unity, The Lowry, Northern Stage & Coventry Belgrade Sheep Soup Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adam Lenson Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
May 2018, May 2018, May 2018 |
The Three Sisters | Theatre |
Embassy Theatre Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Mike Alfreds Set designer: Max Dorey |
Apr 2018 |
Trap Street | Theatre |
New Diorama Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: James Yeatman Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Mar 2018 |
Returning to Haifa | Theatre | Finborough Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Caitlin McLeod Set designer: Rosie Elnile |
Feb 2018 |
The Sound & the Fury | Theatre |
Pleasance Theatre Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sasha Milavic Davies |
Feb 2018 |
Still Ill | Theatre |
New Diorama Theatre Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Director: James Yeatman |
Nov 2016, Jan 2018 |
The Leftovers | Theatre |
Curve Theatre Leicester, then touring Sheep Soup Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Siobhan Cannon-Brownlie Set designer: Lizzy Leech |
Oct 2017 |
Rendezvous in Bratislava (R & D) | Theatre |
Battersea Arts Centre Miriam Sherwood |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Miriam Sherwood Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Oct 2017 |
I Won't Make It On My Own | Theatre |
Nuffield Southampton Theatres Nuffield Southampton Theatres Laboratory |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Chloe Mashiter Set designer: Samuel Wilde |
Oct 2017 |
A Dangerous Woman | Theatre |
Birmingham Rep, then touring Manjeet Mann |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Yael Shavit |
Sep 2017 |
Lists for the end of the world | Theatre |
Summerhall, Edinburgh, then touring Fanshen |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Dan Barnard & Rachel Briscoe |
Aug 2017 |
The Devils | Theatre |
Embassy Theatre The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ben Naylor and Anna Healy Set designer: Max Naylor |
Jul 2017 |
Alligators | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Simon Evans Set designer: Polly Sullivan |
Jun 2016, Jun 2017 |
HARD C*CK | Dance |
Camden People's Theatre ROBERT HESP for HOTBED, Festival of Sex |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Robert Hesp Set designer: Rosie Elnile |
May 2017 |
A Midsummer Night's Dream | Theatre |
Webber Douglas Studio Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Stephen Hudson Set designer: Andreas Skourtis |
Apr 2017 |
The Grapes of Wrath | Theatre |
Nuffield Southampton, then touring Nuffield Southampton Theatres |
Assistant Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Nigel J Edwards Director: Abbey Wright Set designer: Laura Hopkins |
Mar 2017 |
As We Like It | Dance |
The Place Orley Quick And The Hairy Heroines |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Orley Quick |
Jan 2017 |
Consensual | Theatre |
Nuffield Theatre Nuffield Youth Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Max Lindsay Set designer: Samuel Wilde |
Jan 2017 |
Majesty | Dance | Battersea Arts Centre, then touring | Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Helena Webb Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Dec 2016 |
Still Ill | Theatre |
New Diorama Theatre Kandinsky |
Lighting Designer |
Director: James Yeatman |
Nov 2016, Jan 2018 |
HARD C*CK | Dance |
SPILL Festival, Ipswich, then touring Robert Hesp |
Lighting Designer | Set designer: Rosie Elnile | Oct 2016 |
Airswimming | Theatre |
The Vaults NewPlay Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Skuse Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Oct 2016 |
R and D | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nadia Fall Set designer: Ben Stones |
Sep 2016 |
dreamplay | Theatre |
The Vaults BAZ Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen Director: Sarah Bedi Set designer: Joshua Gadsby and Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Sep 2016 |
O | Dance |
British Dance Edition/ Southbank Centre, then touring Project O |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small |
Mar 2016, Sep 2016 |
Mary Stuart | Theatre |
Embassy Theatre Royal Central School of Speech & Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ben Naylor Set designer: Max Dorey |
Jul 2016 |
Measure Of A Fidget | Dance |
Lillian Baylis Studio Big Dance |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Joel O’Donoghue |
Jul 2016 |
Alligators | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Simon Evans Set designer: Polly Sullivan |
Jun 2016, Jun 2017 |
Sideways | Theatre | St James Theatre, London | Production Electrician |
Lighting designer: Mark Howland Director: David Grindley Set designer: Laura Hopkins |
May 2016 |
Kenny Morgan | Theatre | Arcola Theatre | Production Electrician |
Lighting designer: Jack Knowles Director: Lucy Bailey Set designer: Robert Innes Hopkins |
May 2016 |
RISE: Macro vs. Micro - Pop-Ups | Theatre |
Old Vic Workrooms Old Vic New Voices |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Rachel Briscoe & Joesph Hancock Set designer: Naomi Kuyck-Cohen |
Apr 2016 |
Russian Dolls | Theatre | King's Head | Lighting Designer |
Director: Hamish Macdougall Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Apr 2016 |
O | Dance |
British Dance Edition/ Southbank Centre, then touring Project O |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small |
Mar 2016, Sep 2016 |
Firebird | Theatre |
Trafalgar 2 Hampstead Theatre |
Associate Lighting Designer |
Lighting designer: Tom Nickson Director: Edward Hall Set designer: Polly Sullivan |
Feb 2016 |
The Meeting | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Programmer |
Lighting designer: Neill Brinkworth Director: Dennis Lawson Set designer: Alex Marker |
Jan 2016 |
In Good Company | Dance |
The Place Joel and Pete With Inky Cloak |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Joel O’Donoghue |
Jan 2016 |
Pine | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Programmer |
Lighting designer: Johanna Town Director: Lisa Spirling Set designer: Polly Sullivan |
Dec 2015 |
The Island | Theatre | Freedom Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Garry English Set designer: Garry English |
Nov 2015, Dec 2015 |
The Island | Theatre | Freedom Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Garry English Set designer: Garry English |
Nov 2015, Dec 2015 |
Firebird | Theatre |
Hampstead Theatre Downstairs Hampstead Theatre |
Lighting Programmer |
Lighting designer: Tom Nickson Director: Edward Hall Set designer: Polly Sullivan |
Sep 2015 |
I Call My Brothers | Theatre |
Arcola Theatre VOLTA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Yael Shavit Set designer: James Perkins |
Sep 2015 |
Caught | Theatre |
Arcola Theatre VOLTA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Cressida Brown Set designer: James Perkins |
Sep 2015 |
Miss Sarah | Theatre |
Zoo Venues - Monkey House Cicada Studios |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Angus Wilkinson Set designer: Becky Dee Trevenen |
Aug 2015 |
Crave | Theatre |
Theatre Studio DISK Prague Quadrennial (SpaceLab Zlomvaz Festival) |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Maike Koch Set designer: Maike Koch |
Jul 2015 |
Dragging Words | Dance |
The Place Joel and Pete |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Joel O’Donoghue |
Feb 2015 |
Wunderkammer - Normal Things (Installation) | Concert | De Vasim, Netherlands | Lighting Designer | Set designer: María Arnardóttir | Jan 2015 |
One For The Family Album | Theatre |
Arcola Theatre Miniaturists49 |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Rob Watt |
Nov 2014 |
Collapse (R&D) | Dance |
Barbican Pit New Movement Collective |
Lighting Designer | Set designer: SCANLAB | Oct 2014 |
Nothing To See Here | Theatre |
Arcola Tent KimBo |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Gavin Dent |
Aug 2014 |
Loaded | Dance |
Jacksons Lane RCSSD and OUT OF INC |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Vicki Manderson Set designer: Rosie Elnile |
Mar 2014 |
Contact method | Details |
---|---|
Website | |
Agent name | Sophie Rafalowska at Casarotto Ramsay & Associates |
Agent email | sophie@casarotto.co.uk |
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