It is with great sadness that the ALPD heard the news that its co-founder and President, passed away yesterday.   Richard, esteemed Member No. 1, had been the Association’s President for many years.   A distinguished Lighting Designer, Producer, and writer, he was a hugely respected consultant for the construction of new performing arts.   He was the first Lighting Director of the National Theatre and founder of Theatre Projects.

Vice-President Rick Fisher said:

“Richard truly was one of a kind, someone who only saw solutions and opportunities.  While others can speak more eloquently about his brilliance at design and theatre consulting, his embrace of technological innovations, his importance as author, producer and mentor, what I am most reminded of when I think about this wonderful inspirational man is his true enthusiasm for all the people who make up our world.  His instigation of countless associations including the ALPD is a legacy from which we all benefit.  He was always excited to see how we would develop and what we  all could achieve singly and together as a profession. We can best honour him by working together to improve our industry and create magic in performance. I will miss him!”

Chair Johanna Town said:

“Richard was enormously supportive and welcoming when I became Chair.   He was always looking forward and encouraging the younger generation, and anything we could do to support them, welcoming the inception of our Lumière Scheme and the change to our new name.”

When we were debating our name change Richard wrote “The ALD has had an amazingly successful run, in large part thanks to some brilliant leadership and passionate support. Our young profession has been vastly enriched and strengthened by it. Adding the ‘P’ will only dramatically increase its brightness.”

He will be deeply missed by the ALPD and its members, for whom he was a mentor and inspiration."

Rob Halliday, Lighting Designer, journalist and colleague of Richard:

“I discovered lighting in the hall at my school, supported only by a book I found in the library written by a Richard Pilbrow, the second, green, edition with the picture of the NT console on the front. He seemed to be living a remarkable life. His name was on the letterhead when I joined the National Youth Theatre, and really it’s been there floating in front of me and providing inspiration for my whole working life. It was a remarkable thrill to finally meet him a few years in, to discover that he seemed to know everyone but was always happy to meet new people, and that he was constantly seeking to expand his knowledge of everything. To hear his stories of the creation of the National first hand, as I’ve been lucky enough to do over the last couple of years, has been a special privilege. I am sad beyond belief today for Richard, for all of his immediate family, for all who worked with or just knew him, and for the worldwide family of theatre people who have benefitted more than they will ever know from his life and work over the decades.”