Sam Waddington

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Biography

Designs include:

A Voyage Round My Father (Theatre Royal, Bath/UK Tour), The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Chichester Festival Theatre/Unicorn Theatre), Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Magic Beanstalk (Birmingham Rep), Vanara (Hackney Empire), Public Domain (Vaudeville Theatre), Cable Street, Wasted, Superhero (Southwark Playhouse), Maggot Moon, Seesaw (Unicorn Theatre), The Polar Bears Go, Go, Go! (Unicorn/UK Tour), Much Ado About Nothing (Cambridge Arts Theatre), It Never Happened (Arts Ed), 35mm: A Musical Exhibition, The World Goes Round, Rhythm of Life (The Other Palace), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Landor Theatre), Joy (Theatre Royal Stratford East), RAZ (UK Tour)

Associate/Assistant Lighting Designer credits include:

Anything Goes (Barbican Theatre/UK Tour), A Christmas Carol (Broadway/The Old Vic/US Tour), Beauty and the Beast(London Palladium/UK Tour), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), The Forest, The Snail House (Hampstead Theatre), Life of Pi (Sheffield Crucible), Back to the Future (Manchester Opera House), Present Laughter, The Lorax(The Old Vic), Dusty (UK Tour)​

Awards:

BroadwayWorld UK Awards Best Lighting Design Nomination for Wasted (Southwark Playhouse), Offies Awards Best Lighting Design Nomination for Vanara (Hackney Empire)

Sam trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Previous productions

Previous productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative Team Opened
Merrily We Roll Along Musical Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School Of Speech and Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Julia Locascio
Set designer: Tayla Hanrahan
Mar 2024
Cable Street Musical Southwark Playhouse
10to4 Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Yoav Segal
Feb 2024
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Musical Unicorn Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre/Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Justin Audibert
Set designer: James Button
Jan 2024
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Musical Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre/Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Justin Audibert
Set designer: James Button
Dec 2023
Little Red Riding Hood Theatre Birmingham Rep
Birmingham Rep
Lighting Designer Director: Caroline Wilkes
Set designer: Deborah Mingham
Dec 2023
A Christmas Carol Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2023
A Voyage Round My Father Theatre Theatre Royal, Bath, then touring
Robert Fox
Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Sam Waddington/Hugh Vanstone
Director: Richard Eyre
Set designer: Bob Crowley
Sep 2023
Anything That We Wanted To Be Musical Summerhall
Adam Lenson Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Hannah Moss
Set designer: Libby Todd
Aug 2023
The Bartered Bride Opera Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Howard Hudson
Director: Roșie Purdie/Paul Curran
Set designer: Kevin Knight
Jun 2023
Let's Talk About Philip Theatre Pleasance, then touring
SFTW
Lighting Designer Director: Derek Bond
Set designer: Sue Condie
Jul 2022, May 2023
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Musical Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Justin Audibert
Set designer: James Button
Mar 2023
Steel Magnolias Theatre Churchill Theatre Bromley, then touring
Trafalgar Entertainment
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Howard Hudson
Director: Anthony Banks
Set designer: Laura Hopkins
Jan 2023
Jack and the Magic Beanstalk Theatre Birmingham Rep
Birmingham Rep
Lighting Designer Director: Caroline Wilkes
Set designer: Deborah Mingham
Dec 2022
A Christmas Carol Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2022
The Dog with Two Dads Theatre Midlands Arts Centre
Little Earthquake
Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Nicholls
Set designer: Lizzy Leech
Oct 2022
The Snail House Theatre Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Richard Eyre
Set designer: Tim Hatley
Sep 2022
Let's Talk About Philip Theatre Pleasance, then touring
SFTW
Lighting Designer Director: Derek Bond
Set designer: Sue Condie
Jul 2022, May 2023
The Polar Bears Go, Go, Go! Theatre Unicorn Theatre, then touring
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Lee Lyford
Set designer: Claire Halleran
Mar 2019, Jul 2022
Get Dressed! Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Jade Lewis
Set designer: Cara Evans
May 2022
Anything Goes Musical Barbican Theatre, then touring
Trafalgar Entertainment
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Kathleen Marshall
Set designer: Derek McLane
Jul 2021, Apr 2022
The Forest Theatre Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Jonathan Kent
Set designer: Anna Fleischle
Feb 2022
Pericles Theatre Jackson's Lane
Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Simon Scardifield
Set designer: Cara Evans
Feb 2022
A Christmas Carol Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2021
A Christmas Carol Theatre Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco, then touring
Showtown
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2021
Vanara Musical Hackney Empire
Vanara Ltd
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson/Eleesha Drennan
Set designer: Libby Todd
Oct 2021
Beauty and the Beast Musical Bristol Hippodrome, then touring
Disney Theatrical
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Natasha Katz
Director: Matt West
Set designer: Stanley Myer
Aug 2021
Anything Goes Musical Barbican Theatre, then touring
Trafalgar Entertainment
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Kathleen Marshall
Set designer: Derek McLane
Jul 2021, Apr 2022
Ride Musical Garrick Theatre
DEM Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson/Freya Catrin-Smith
Set designer: Libby Todd
Jun 2021
Public Domain Musical Vaudeville Theatre
Adam Lenson Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Libby Todd
May 2021
The Sorrows of Satan Musical Brocket Hall
Taylor Gaunt Enterprises
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
May 2021
A Christmas Carol: In Camera Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Dec 2020
Catch Me Musical Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Libby Todd
Nov 2020
The Limit Musical Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Libby Todd
Nov 2020
Back to the Future Musical Manchester Opera House
Colin Ingram Ltd
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone/Tim Lutkin
Director: John Rando
Set designer: Tim Hatley
Feb 2020
42nd Street Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Ovation
Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Emily Bestow
Dec 2019
A Christmas Carol Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2019
A Christmas Carol Theatre Lyceum Theatre, Broadway Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2019
Mary Poppins Musical Prince Edward Theatre
Cameron Makintosh Ltd
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone/Natasha Katz
Director: Richard Eyre
Set designer: Bob Crowley
Nov 2019
Maggot Moon Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Jesse Jones
Set designer: Lucy Sierra
Sep 2019
small Theatre Soho Theatre
Oxford School of Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Aug 2019
Fleabag Theatre Wyndham's Theatre
Fiery Angel
Lighting Programmer Lighting designer: Elliot Griggs
Director: Vicky Jones
Set designer: Holly Pigott
Aug 2019
Bones Theatre Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Martin Wylde/Diane Alison-Mitchell
Set designer: Sammy Dowson
Jul 2019
Life of Pi Theatre Sheffield Crucible
Sheffield Theatres
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Tim Lutkin
Director: Max Webster
Set designer: Tim Hatley
Jun 2019
Present Laughter Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Tim Lutkin & Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Jun 2019
Into The Woods Musical Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Libby Todd
May 2019
It Never Happened Theatre Arts Ed
Arts Ed
Lighting Designer Director: Alex Thorpe
Set designer: Anna Reid
May 2019
Other People’s Money Theatre Southwark Playhouse
Blue Touch Paper
Lighting Designer Director: Katharine Farmer
Set designer: Emily Leonard
Apr 2019
The Polar Bears Go, Go, Go! Theatre Unicorn Theatre, then touring
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Lee Lyford
Set designer: Claire Halleran
Mar 2019, Jul 2022
The Merry Widow Opera London Coliseum
English National Opera
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Bruno Poet
Director: Max Webster
Set designer: Ben Stones
Mar 2019
Much Ado about Nothing Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Richard Beecham
Set designer: Nancy Surman
Jan 2019
Nice Work If You Can Get It Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Ovation
Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Pollyanna Elston
Dec 2018
A Christmas Carol Theatre The Old Vic
The Old Vic
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Nov 2018
The Velveteen Rabbit Theatre Seattle Children's Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: David W Kidd
Director: Purni Morell
Set designer: James Button
Nov 2018
Skate Hard, Turn Left Theatre Battersea Arts Centre Lighting Designer Director: Jemima James
Set designer: Ruth Sutcliffe
Jul 2017, Oct 2018
Wasted Musical Southwark Playhouse
Oli Sones Limited
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Libby Todd
Sep 2018
Big Aftermath of a Small Disclosure Theatre Summerhall
Actors Touring Company
Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Set designer: Ruth Hall
Aug 2018
DUSTY Musical Theatre Royal, Bath, then touring
Eleanor Lloyd Productions
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Bruno Poet
Director: Maria Friedman
Set designer: Tom Pye
Jun 2018
Our Town Theatre The North Wall Theatre
Oxford School of Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Set designer: Georgia De Grey
Jun 2018
Not Now, Bernard Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Sarah Argent
Set designer: Natalie Pryce
May 2018
Return to the Forbidden Planet Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Ovation
Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Amy Yardley
May 2018
The Country Wife Theatre Southwark Playhouse
Morphic Graffiti
Lighting Designer Director: Luke Fredericks
Set designer: Stewart Charlesworth
Mar 2018
The Cherry Orchard Theatre The Union Theatre
The Phil Willmott Company
Lighting Designer Director: Phil Willmott
Set designer: Justin Williams
Mar 2018
A Midsummer Night's Dream Theatre Morley Theatre Company
Morley Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Lisa Cagnacci
Feb 2018
Seesaw Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Sarah Argent
Set designer: Verity Quinn
Jan 2018
Top Hat Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Ovation
Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Emily Bestow
Dec 2017
The Velveteen Rabbit Theatre Unicorn Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: David W Kidd
Director: Purni Morell
Set designer: James Button
Mar 2017, Nov 2017
Joy Theatre Gerry's, Theatre Royal Stratford East
clamour
Lighting Designer Director: Melanie Fullbrook
Set designer: Carla Goodman
Oct 2017
Lucky Stiff Musical The Union Theatre
The Union Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Paul Callen
Set designer: Reuben Speed
Sep 2017
35mm: A Musical Exhibition Musical The Other Palace Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Justin Williams
Sep 2017
Rules for Living Theatre Royal & Derngate Theatre, then touring
English Touring Theatre, Royal & Derngate and Rose Theatre Kingston
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Matt Daw
Director: Simon Godwin
Set designer: Lily Arnold
Sep 2017
Treating Odette Theatre Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Ovation
Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Emily Bestow
Jul 2017
Skate Hard, Turn Left Theatre Battersea Arts Centre Lighting Designer Director: Jemima James
Set designer: Ruth Sutcliffe
Jul 2017, Oct 2018
Superhero Musical Southwark Playhouse
Tim Johanson Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Georgia De Grey
Jun 2017
Spring Storm Theatre The North Wall Theatre
Oxford School of Drama
Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Set designer: Georgia De Grey
Jun 2017
La Boheme Opera Iford Arts
Iford Arts
Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Christopher Nairne
Director: Christopher Cowell
Set designer: Eleanor Wdowski
May 2017
Big Love Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Young Company
Lighting Designer Director: Purni Morell/Christian Roe
Apr 2017
The Velveteen Rabbit Theatre Unicorn Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: David W Kidd
Director: Purni Morell
Set designer: James Button
Mar 2017, Nov 2017
The Sorrows of Satan Musical Tristan Bates Theatre
Fisher Taylor-Gaunt Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Michael Conley
Feb 2017
Daddy's Girl Theatre Brick Hall, The Vaults
Three Streets Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Jan 2017
Birthday Suit Theatre Old Red Lion Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Alice Malin
Set designer: Georgia De Grey
Jan 2017
Anything Goes Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Emily Bestow
Dec 2016
Legally Blonde Musical Watford Palace Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Sam Gaines
Nov 2016
Wasted Musical West Yorkshire Playhouse Courtyard Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Mat Daw
Director: Adam Lenson
Set designer: Bec Chippendale
Oct 2016
Battleface Theatre Bush Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Simon Gethin Thomas
Director: Joe Murphy
Set designer: Olivia Altaras
Oct 2016
One Cold Dark Night Theatre Bush Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Simon Gethin Thomas
Director: Omar Elerian
Set designer: Olivia Altaras
Sep 2016
The Great Divide Theatre Finborough Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Rory McGregor
Set designer: Sebastian Noel
Sep 2016
The Past is a Tattooed Sailor Theatre Old Red Lion Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Jeffrey Mayhew
Set designer: Rosie Mayhew
Aug 2016
Richard III Theatre Swan Theatre/Leicester Square Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Imogen Beech
Set designer: Evelyn Hunter
Jun 2016, Jul 2016
Richard III Theatre Swan Theatre/Leicester Square Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Imogen Beech
Set designer: Evelyn Hunter
Jun 2016, Jul 2016
Wallis Theatre Upstairs at the Gatehouse Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Emily Bestow
May 2016
RAZ Theatre The Lowry, then touring Lighting Designer Director: Anthony Banks
May 2016
Secret Cinema presents 28 Days Later Environmental Secret Cinema Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Matt Daw
Director: Fabien Riggall
Set designer: Tim McQuillen Wright
Apr 2016
The Caretaker Theatre The Old Vic Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Mar 2016
Sweet Charity Musical Embassy Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Anthony Banks
Set designer: Andrew D Edwards
Feb 2016
The World Goes Round Concert St James Theatre Studio Lighting Designer Director: Kris Rawlinson
Feb 2016
The Master Builder Theatre The Old Vic Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Director: Matthew Warchus
Set designer: Rob Howell
Jan 2016
Legally Blonde Musical Upstairs at the Gatehouse Lighting Designer Director: John Plews
Set designer: Isobel Power Smith
Dec 2015
The Lorax Musical The Old Vic Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Jon Clark
Director: Max Webster
Set designer: Rob Howell
Dec 2015
Singin' in the Rain Musical Watford Palace Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Nick Moran
Director: Nikki Scott
Nov 2015
The Clockmaker's Daughter in Concert Concert St James Theatre Studio Lighting Designer Director: Robert McWhir
Nov 2015
Tipping The Velvet Theatre Lyric Hammersmith/Edinburgh Lyceum Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Jon Clark
Director: Lyndsey Turner
Set designer: Lizzie Clachan
Sep 2015, Oct 2015
La Ronde Theatre Etcetera Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Jenny Quayle
Set designer: Milda Samsonaite
Sep 2015
Tipping The Velvet Theatre Lyric Hammersmith/Edinburgh Lyceum Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Jon Clark
Director: Lyndsey Turner
Set designer: Lizzie Clachan
Sep 2015, Oct 2015
Thoroughly Modern Millie Musical Landor Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Matthew Illife
Set designer: Andrew Riley
Aug 2015
The 3 Tryers Theatre Landor Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Paul Nicholas Dyke
Aug 2015
An Evening with Tim McArthur Concert Landor Theatre Lighting Designer Jul 2015
American Idiot Musical Arts Theatre Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Tim Deiling
Director: Racky Plews
Set designer: Sara Perks
Jul 2015
Rhythm of Life Theatre St James Theatre Studio Lighting Designer Director: Robert McWhir
Jul 2015
Red the Wolf Slayer Musical Webber Douglas Studio Lighting Designer Director: Sherrill Gow
Set designer: Hannah Wastnidge
Jun 2015
The Clockmaker's Daughter Musical Landor Theatre Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Richard Lambert
Director: Robert McWhir
Set designer: David Shields
May 2015
In the Dead of Night Theatre Landor Theatre Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Richard Lambert
Director: Claudio Macor
Set designer: Paul Nicholas Dyke
Apr 2015
West Side Story Musical Embassy Theatre Associate Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Nick Moran
Director: Ed Hughes
Set designer: Sara Perks
Mar 2015
Location availability:
  • Worldwide
Contact method Details
Email address

sam.waddington@live.co.uk

Website www.samwaddington.co.uk
Theatre:
  • International
  • West End
  • Commercial Tour
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Regional (Studio)
  • Small Scale Touring
  • Fringe / Pub Theatre
  • Education Establishment
  • Touring relights
Musical:
  • West End
  • Commercial Tour
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Regional (Studio)
  • Small Scale / Fringe
  • Pantomime
  • Education Establishment
Opera:
  • Large scale
  • 'Country House'

News

Appearing here soon... a collection of articles from the Focus magazine archives.

Press quotes

Cable Street

A fantastic creative team – including truly brilliant lighting and set work from Sam Waddington and Yoav Segal respectively"
Ian Bowkett, Musical Theatre Review 28/02/2024
Backed by wire mesh and scaffolding... Sam Waddington’s dramatic lighting put the emphasis on the actors
Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide 28/02/2024
Whole locations are conjured up by the moving around of furniture and an adjustment in Sam Waddington’s atmospheric lighting
Alun Hood, WhatsOnStage 27/02/2024

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Using fab fluorescent paints and lights, the whole thing is sympathetically lit by Sam Waddington, with some striking shots of colour adding boosts of drama
Mary Pollard, Everything Theatre 23/03/2023
[The] designs feature mountains illuminated with LED strips, nicely echoing the blend of ancient and modern that underscores the show
Theo Bosanquet, WhatsOnStage 23/03/2023
[The] fresh, neon-edged set reveals clever details as the goats' journey progresses. The all-important bridge lights up as they trip-trap across it, against a backdrop of stars that shift to a pink dawn
Anna James, The Stage 23/03/2023
[The] neon-rimmed set, with its looming rocky mountains and glowing green bridge...comes into its own in a seriously dramatic denouement, as the goats battle the troll one last time with the golden sun rising overhead
Miriam Gillinson, The Guardian 22/03/2023

Vanara

The set and lighting work of Libby Todd and Sam Waddington are well-coordinated and create a distinct atmosphere of a familiar but somehow alien world
Ian Bowkett, Musical Theatre Review 27/10/2021
The lighting from Sam Waddington is just gorgeous
Richard Lambert, TheatreReviews.Design 26/10/2021

Public Domain

All enhanced by Matt Daw and Sam Waddington’s lighting
Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub 28/05/2021
The lighting made the show
Sarah McPartlan, Musical Theatre Musings 28/05/2021

42nd Street

Sam Waddington’s lighting is almost a character in its own right, coming into its own for the Shadow Waltz number but also assisting in rapid scene changes
David Guest, The Reviews Hub 22/12/2019
Glorious lighting throughout
Richard Lambert, TheatreReviews.Design 18/12/2019
Impressive lighting design
Patrick Honoré, Musical Theatre Review 17/12/2019

Maggot Moon

Powerful lighting
Anna James, The Stage 07/10/2019

Other People’s Money

Sam Waddington’s glamorously dramatic lighting design
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 28/04/2019
...A grippingly fast pace throughout, which is enabled by Sam Waddington’s lighting design
Jonathan Marshall, The Upcoming 24/04/2019
Scenes flow quickly into one another with a cinematic speed using Sam Waddington’s lighting design and John Leonard’s sound to denote changes in time and location
Maryam Philpott, The Reviews Hub 24/04/2019
Very effective lighting
Keith Mckenna, British Theatre Guide 23/04/2019

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Everything is handsomely lit by Sam Waddington
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 16/12/2018

Wasted

Joe Bunker's terrific band are as much part of the show as Libby Todd's starkly striking set or Matt Daw and Sam Waddington's exciting lighting.
Alun Hood, Whats On Stage 17/09/2018
Matt Daw and Sam Waddington’s lighting design is particularly effective and makes limitless possibilities arise in the small space
Lani Calvert, Musical Theatre Review 15/09/2018
Matt Daw and Sam Waddington’s clever lighting adds both location and nuance to the show
Jonathan Baz, Jonathan Baz 14/09/2018
The lighting design by Matt Daw and Sam Waddington is focused and gives the already energetic vibe the last spur of stamina
Cindy Marcolina, Broadway World 13/09/2018

Not Now, Bernard

The silent heroes of this production however are Owen Crouch’s sound design, and Sam Waddington’s skillful lighting...the use of light to change rooms, as well as enhance the bright colours in the garden, make this show all the more charming - all whilst conveying a very subtle message for parents.
Curious Mum, Curious Mum 07/06/2018
Sam Waddington’s lighting design skilfully moves the action between the two locations – home and garden – that share Natalie Pryce’s colourful set
Jo Caird, The Stage 04/06/2018

Return to the Forbidden Planet

Magnificently lit by Sam Waddington
Aline Waites, remotegoat.com 17/05/2018
Lit glamorously by Sam Waddington
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 17/05/2018

The Country Wife

Any aside by a character – this production makes you realise how many there are – is accompanied by a dipping of light. It’s an impressive technical feat by lighting designer Sam Waddington; it also repunctuates the play, giving it the flicker of film. It becomes not only a series of dialogues between characters but a series of internal discussions. With a witty apogee when one aside, frozen in light, consists only of a gasp.
Susannah Clapp, The Observer 15/04/2018

The Cherry Orchard

Enhanced by an atmospheric lighting design by Sam Waddington
Nick Wayne, Pocket Size Theatre 19/03/2018

Seesaw

The faltering confrontations between the boy and girl – accented by Sam Waddington’s emotional lighting states – powerfully reflect the extreme highs and lows of young friendship
Miriam Gillinson, The Guardian 05/02/2018

Top Hat

Lit impeccably
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 18/12/2017
The lighting ebbs and flows with the music & action, and guides us nicely along through all of the different locations the show demands. Never missing the musical nuances or the costume bling, Sam shows an experienced hand on the lighting
Richard Lambert, TheatreReviews.Design 16/12/2017
Sam Waddington’s lighting design is a lesson in how to light a space of its kind, a delightfully lit production
Mark Swale, Pocket Size Theatre 16/12/2017

Lucky Stiff

Glamorising the emptiness, pools and shafts of wonderful light from Sam Waddington give character and mood to the otherwise deserted terrain
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 01/10/2017
Angular and dynamic lighting... (designed perfectly by Sam Waddington)
Colm Molloy, The 730 Review 30/09/2017

35mm: A Musical Exhibition

Sam Waddington is here to light it all with his trademark skill
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 25/09/2017

Superhero

"Usually details like the lighting and sound are good enough to support the performance but not quite good enough to stand out as their own craft. In this case the lighting was as original and exciting as the rest of the musical. Many of the scene changes and mood settings relied almost completely on the lighting. Sam Waddington, lighting designer, demonstrated a level of craft and skill that matched the efforts from all involved."
Christian Fisher, The Weekender 06/07/2017
"Lenson’s triumphant direction of a fiendishly complicated web of strands in the story, punctuated with near-perfection by Waddington’s 300 or so lighting cues, is a miracle of stagecraft."
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 04/07/2017
"Sam Waddington’s lighting design is crisp and clear, giving definition between states of past and present and taking us into new worlds at the push of a button."
Max May, Live Theatre UK 03/07/2017
"Cinematically lit by Sam Waddington, who manages to create a Marvel-worthy apparition."
Francesca Peschier, Exeunt Magazine 03/07/2017
"The constant change of setting and flashbacks could prove a challenge. However, through clever direction and a clever lighting plot, this was overcome easily."
Sarah McPartlan, Musical Theatre Musings 01/07/2017
"Director Adam Lenson's work, combined with lighting designer Sam Waddington and sound designer Andy Hinton, is what makes the musical run smoothly and clearly through the various time jumps. Via interesting use of lighting and a slight echo, Colin travels from his memories with his family to the courtroom."
Cindy Marcolina, Broadway World 01/07/2017

The Sorrows of Satan

Sam Waddington – that upcoming genius of the theatre – lights it all with his customary brilliance and economy, and is especially adept in opening up the different ‘layers’ of the script.
Julian Eaves, BritishTheatre.com 24/02/2017
Sam Waddington’s lighting designs are kind and responsive, allowing in the second act for the quick switching of states and the opening up of a more performative space.
Max May, Live Theatre UK 23/02/2017

Anything Goes

The lighting design by Sam Waddington and musical direction by Dan Glover also add to the high standard of professionalism of this production.
Musical Theatre Review 20/12/2016
The lighting (Sam Waddington) is very sympathetic to the piece. It conveys location and time of day whilst maintaining the delicate balance between visibility and atmosphere. Expertly achieved
Richard Lambert, TheatreReviews.Design 16/12/2016

The Great Divide

Light and darkness (controlled expertly by Sam Waddington) play their part, whether for beauty and atmosphere or to establish the grinding repetition of factory work and the horror of fire and smoke.
Judi Herman, Jewish Renaissance 10/09/2016

The Past is a Tattooed Sailor

The Lighting Design (Sam Waddington) was perfect. Expertly transporting us from interior drawing room to sunny glades while maintaining visibility of actor’s faces. Enough dynamic variations to keep it interesting."
Richard Lambert, TheatreReviews.Design 13/08/2016

RAZ

Faultless sound and light cues further enhance
David Upton, British Theatre Guide 16/05/2016
The lighting, music and sound effects were all incredible, successfully setting the scene of where Shane was. Along with adding incredibly humorous elements such as location changes and the downing of drinks with perfect timing
Ellie Close, North West End 16/05/2016

Legally Blonde

...all given full value by Sam Waddington – Lighting Designer
Aline Waites, Ham and High 21/12/2015

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Both the set and period-but-greyish costumes are given brush-strokes of class in Sam Waddington's richly toned lighting design.
Johnny Fox, Londonist 27/08/2015
Sam Waddington lights proceedings with a sure eye and real skill, so that shadows dance and hover in an appropriately romantic/spooky way depending upon the scene
Stephen Collins, BritishTheatre.com 27/08/2015