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I’m so proud to share that I was recently the recipient of the @theprofileawards for the Student Virtual Lighting Competition in collaboration with @ac_ent_technologies and @castsoftware #wysiwyg Swipe to the end to see the final piece! When I first discovered this competition at the start of the year, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be writing this post The process wasn’t without it’s challenges, from realising my trusty 7 year old PC couldn’t run both Wysiwyg and a control software at the same time (cue building a brand-new PC on my own from scratch for the first time!) to remembering that my AvoKey only outputted one universe… definitely not ideal for the 8-universe competition rig. So, I made the bold decision to properly learn grandMA2 and use it to program my design all with just two weeks to the deadline! I’ve always loved Lindsey Stirling’s music and the way she fuses strings with synth, so Take Flight felt like the perfect track especially paired with the setting of the Royal Albert Hall. Creating the 3 minute show forced me to think outside the box and although slow at first, once minute one was programmed things started to fall into place! Honestly, just finishing and submitting the piece alongside my surgical placement and all the new skills I learnt during the process was something I was so proud of. I couldn’t believe I made the deadline - let alone that I’d be shortlisted, and eventually win! As someone who found their passion for lighting relatively late (and whilst studying a completely unrelated degree!), being recognised for a design like this means more than I can explain. I still remember how excited I was just to be invited to the awards and be in the room with all the incredible industry professionals that I look up to - winning was truly the cherry on top of an already very iced cake. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve had from those in the industry, @nationalyouththeatre and the opportunities I had at St Andrews through @ustaents , @byretheatre and @laidlawmusiccentre Without this, I can definitely say that I wouldn’t be who I am today and it would’ve taken even longer to figure out that this is for me.

The day after I finished my final exams at St Andrews, I was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks with the National Theatre of Scotland as a lighting trainee on their production of Maggie & Me. It was such an incredible experience and I learnt so much during my time in Glasgow. I can’t thank the production team and cast enough (especially team lighting!) for being super welcoming and friendly and for answering all of my questions! 
Creative Team DAMIAN BARRR - Writer SUSAN BEAR - Sound Designer ORLA O’CONNOR - Casting Director
SUBA DAS - Director & Script Development STRUAN LESLIE - Movement Director & Associate Director JAMES LEY - Writer MATT MCBRIER - Assistant Director KENNETH MACLEOD - Set & Costume Designer TIM REID - Video Designer JEAN SANGSTER - Vocal Coach KATHARINE WILLIAMS - Lighting Designer SARAH FORRESTER - BSL Performance Interpreter AMY CHESKIN - BSL Performance Interpreter Cast SAM ANGELL - Wee DB
NICOLA JO CULLY - Mum
GARY LAMONT - DB
BETH MARSHALL - Margaret Thatcher
GRANT MCINTYRE - Mark
DOUGLAS RANKINE - Dad
JOANNE THOMSON - Heather Wider Production Team
LEAH BROWN - Lighting Trainee LAURA CLARK - Producer
MARIANNE FORDE - Company Stage Manager
REEGAN GRAHAM - Assistant Stage Manager
PADDY HEPPLEWHITE - Swing Technician
KYLE JESSIMAN - Technical Manager
CAIT IRVINE - Assistant Producer
EMILIE LEGER - Deputy Stage Manager TOM LIGHTBODY - Lighting Programmer
FRASER MACKIE - Sound Supervisor
RUTH MAIN - Wardrobe Supervisor
NICKI MARTIN-HARPER - Costume Technician
EMMA-JANE MCHENDRY - Audio Description
SHONA M’GADZAH - Lighting Trainee
AOIBHEANN MORIARTY - Video Supervisor
AILSA MUNRO - Costume Supervisor
SUZIE NORMAND - Production Manager
ALISON PENDLOWSKI - Captioner
JONNY REED - Lighting Supervisor

Words cant quite convey how proud I am of this production team, cast and orchestra for what they have achieved in the past three months. When I first found out that I was lighting Jekyll & Hyde, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what we ended up pulling off this weekend. All the late night eos pre programming sessions were completely worth it and the final production was a testament to everyone’s hard work. After 9 musicals in three years I am so proud to be able to call this my final @ustamustheatresoc show, and am excited to see what the future holds🥰🥹 Swipe to the end for my favourite part of the show👀 Abigail Harper - Director Lucy Callaghan - Producer Kieron Moore - Vocal MD Joe Atkinson - Orchestral MD Shona M’gadzah Lighting Designer Iain Cunningham - Sound Designer Siobhan Williams - Set Designer Max Fogelman - Stage Manager Elena Kalenti - Choreographer Elisa Toucas - Costumier Rowan Kehrer - Production Assistant Ray Rohit - Publicist 📸 1-9: @atlascamera21

Embracing the new year, new me spirit, I’ve decided to try and post more regularly about what I’ve gotten up to recently… so kicking it off with Byre Opera’s production of Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove & Alasdair Middleton! I had a great time working alongside such a talented cast and production team and watching the opera grow over the course of 5 weeks! • @byre_opera • @laidlawmusiccentre • @byretheatre • Director – Tania Holland Williams Musical Director – Michael Downes Pianists – Neil Metcalfe & Ziying He Choreographer – Kally Lloyd Jones Set & Costume Design – Sarah Booth Lighting Design – Benny Goodman Projection Design – Sadie Benning Stage Manager – Alexandra McKenna Assistant Stage Manager – Ben Clark Production Manager – David Venters Company Manager & Dramaturg – Jonathan May Assistant Company Manager – Shona M’gadzah 📸 1,3,5,7: @viktoria_shot_in 📸 2,4,6,8,9,10: @shona.tech 📅 June 2023

Arguably one of my favourite gigs from last semester, Rewind ft. Freddie and the Queen Experience. Loved the chance to bring out the pars and create a proper 70s feel. Combined with the 12 150s it resulted in an awesome final look. Having a set list to busk to was also a nice change from the spontaneity of regular club nights (video at the end!) This was also the first time trying out a new board workflow that I’ve ended up really liking but it definitely still has a few tweaks before I’m completely happy with it! Hopefully more bands play @standrewsunion this year! 📸 1-5: @lightboxstandrews 👥: @ustaents 🎮: Avolites Tiger Touch II

Thought I’d start this account with some footage from Winter Wonderland @standrewsunion in November (Swipe to the end for video!) With an additional ground package of 8 spikies, 8 titan tubes, 6 uplighters and 2 snow machines on top of our normal set up, can definitely say I had a great time lighting this event! Not really sure what I’m going to end up posting here in the future but thought I’d create a platform for me to talk all things tech (not that I don’t spend most of my time doing that already!) 📸 1-4: @lightboxstandrews 👥: @ustaents 🎮 (since there’s no emoji lx boards!): Avolites tiger touch II