Charlie Lucas
Biography
Charlie is a lighting designer with experience in plays, musicals, opera and contemporary dance. Charlie's lighting designs include Bully Boy (Mercury Theatre, Colchester), The Match Box (Liverpool Playhouse & Tricycle Theatre), As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse), The First Man, Flowers of the Forest, Fever, Ivy and Joan, Told Look Younger (Jermyn Street Theatre), Love Bombs and Apples (AIK Productions / Arcola), Suitcases (Wet Picnic / Poole Lighthouse), Frozen, Archimedes Principle (Park Theatre), Rise Up, The Muddy Choir, Advice for the Young at Heart (Theatre Centre, touring), Equally Divided, Mother Goose (Watford Palace), Von Ribbentrop’s Watch (Oxford Playhouse & tour), Jealousy (The Print Room), Dirty Great Love Story (Soho & off-Broadway), Red Riding Hood (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Momo (Greenwich Theatre & tour), Walking the Tightrope, In Blood: The Bacchae (Arcola), Mummyji Presents (Rifco Arts/Watford Palace), The Little Witch, Red (Robin Howard Dance Theatre, The Place), Death and Gardening (Edinburgh, Assembly Roxy Upstairs), Blue Remembered Hills (New Rep Theatre Co / New Diorama Theatre), One Hour and Eighteen Minutes (Sputnik Theatre Co / New Diorama Theatre), 1888 (Union Theatre), Nothing is the End of the World, The Hard Man (Finborough), Snakes and Ladders (Plenty Productions / Brighton Pavilion, tour), Death and Gardening (Wet Picnic, Edinburgh Festival), SohoStreets (Soho Theatre).
Lighting designs for opera include: The Magic Flute (Garsington Opera at West Green House), Cautionary Tales (Opera North), Werther (Opera Les Azuriales, Nice), La Traviata, Un Ballo in Maschera, Acis and Galatea, The Return of Ulysses, La Rondine (Iford Arts), The Elixir of Love (Blackheath Halls Opera), Oberon (New Sussex Opera).
In 2008, Charlie redesigned the lighting for (the old) Arcola Theatre’s bar and foyer as part of their carbon-neutral energy initiative. Charlie has been lighting supervisor for Scottish Opera, supervising and re-lighting main-scale productions of La Boheme and The Secret Marriage. He has worked as associate lighting designer to Johanna Town, on What The Butler Saw (Vaudeville), Betrayal (Comedy Theatre), Speaking in Tongues (Duke of York's), for ETT's tour of Arcadia and for Out of Joint & Soho Theatre's tour of Dreams of Violence. Charlie has experience of touring relights for opera, drama and contemporary dance.
Charlie trained at RADA on the specialist stage electrics and lighting design course. Please email charlie@charlielucas.co.uk for a full CV.
Previous productions
Previous productions
| Show name | Type | Venue/Company | Role | Creative Team | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bully Boy | Theatre |
Studio, Mercury Theatre, Colchester Mercury Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Dan Sherer Set designer: James Cotterill |
Nov 2015 |
| Suitcases | Theatre |
Poole Lighthouse - Studio, then touring Wet Picnic |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Matt Feerick Set designer: Katherine Heath |
Oct 2015 |
| The First Man | Theatre |
Jermyn Street Theatre Jermyn Street Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Biggs Set designer: Tim Dann |
Oct 2015 |
| Rise Up | Theatre |
Redbridge Drama Centre, then touring Theatre Centre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Natalie Wilson Set designer: Emma Donovan |
Sep 2015 |
| Love, Bombs and Apples | Theatre |
Arcola Studio 2 AIK Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Rosamunde Hutt Set designer: Mila Sanders |
Jul 2015 |
| Told Look Younger | Theatre |
Jermyn Street Theatre Eldarin Yeong Studio |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sue Dunderdale Set designer: Bob Bailey |
Jun 2015 |
| Un Ballo in Maschera | Opera |
Cloister, Iford Manor Iford Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Timothy Nelson |
Jun 2015 |
| Frozen | Theatre |
Park Theatre, Park 90 The Blueprint Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ian Brown Set designer: Jason Southgate |
Mar 2015 |
| Ivy and Joan | Theatre |
Jermyn Street Theatre Jermyn Street Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Biggs Set designer: Victoria Johnstone |
Jan 2015 |
| The Tellers' Tales | Theatre |
Corbett Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Chris Meads Set designer: Asa Norling |
Dec 2014 |
| The Firebird | Theatre |
Corbett Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Vicky Ireland Set designer: Asa Norling |
Dec 2014 |
| Oberon | Opera |
Lewes Town Hall, then touring New Sussex Opera |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Harry Fehr |
Nov 2014 |
| The Little Witch | Dance |
The Place Marie Forbes and Sophie Nüzel |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Marie Forbes and Sophie Nüzel Set designer: Nicky Bunch |
Oct 2014 |
| Flowers of the Forest | Theatre |
Jermyn Street Theatre Jermyn Street Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Biggs Set designer: Victoria Johnstone |
Sep 2014 |
| As You Like It | Theatre |
Southwark Playhouse Peter Huntley Productions and W14 Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Derek Bond Set designer: Emma Bailey |
Sep 2014 |
| The Muddy Choir | Theatre |
Redbridge Drama Centre, then touring Theatre-Centre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Natalie Wilson Set designer: Emma Donovan |
Sep 2014 |
| The Return of Ulysses | Opera |
Cloister, Iford Manor Iford Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Justin Way Set designer: Kimm Kovac |
Jul 2014 |
| Two Gentlemen of Verona | Theatre |
Cockpit Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ian Brown Set designer: Mila Sanders |
Jul 2014 |
| Cat Among the Pigeons | Theatre |
Cockpit Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Robin Sneller Set designer: Mila Sanders |
Jul 2014 |
| Fever | Theatre |
Jermyn Street Theatre Jermyn Street Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Anthony Biggs Set designer: Victoria Johnstone |
Jun 2014 |
| La Rondine | Opera |
Iford Manor Iford Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ben Occhipinti Set designer: Emma Wee |
Jun 2014 |
| Archimedes Principle | Theatre |
Park 90 Fox Trotter Theatre Co in assoc with Park Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Marta Noguera-Cuevas Set designer: Cory Roberts |
Apr 2014 |
| Snakes and Ladders | Theatre |
Fairfield Halls, then touring Plenty Productions & Rolemop Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kerri McLean Set designer: Mila Sanders |
Apr 2014 |
| Book of Days | Theatre |
Arcola Studio 1 E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Mehmet Ergen Set designer: Dinah England |
Mar 2014 |
| Momo | Musical |
Polka Theatre, then touring Filament Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sabina Netherclift Set designer: Emma Wee |
Mar 2014 |
| The Hard Man | Theatre |
Finborough Theatre Maximillian Bittleston and Neil McPherson |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Mark Dominy Set designer: Mike Lees |
Mar 2014 |
| Blue Remembered Hills | Theatre |
New Diorama Theatre New Rep Theatre Co |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Graham Hubbard |
Feb 2014 |
| Robin Hood | Theatre |
Corbett Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Graham Hubbard Set designer: Nicolai Hart-Hansen |
Dec 2013 |
| Advice for the Young at Heart | Theatre |
Greenwich Theatre, then touring Theatre-Centre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Natalie Wilson Set designer: Emma Wee |
Oct 2013 |
| Death and Gardening | Theatre |
Assembly Roxy Upstairs Wet Picnic |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Matt Feerick Set designer: Alice Walkling |
Aug 2013 |
| Acis and Galatea | Opera |
Iford Manor Iford Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Pia Furtado Set designer: Georgia Lowe |
Jul 2013 |
| Once in a Lifetime | Theatre |
BAC E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Robin Sneller Set designer: John Bell |
Jun 2013 |
| Widows | Theatre |
BAC E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Glen Walford Set designer: John Bell |
Jun 2013 |
| La Traviata | Opera |
Iford Manor Iford Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Bruno Ravella Set designer: Kimm Kovac |
Jun 2013 |
| Nothing is the end of the world (except for the end of the world) | Theatre |
Finborough Theatre Het Up Theatre and Neil McPherson |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Max Pappenheim Set designer: Susannah Henry |
May 2013 |
| The Match Box | Theatre |
Tricycle Theatre Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Lia Williams Set designer: Colin Richmond |
May 2013 |
| Dirty Great Love Story | Theatre |
Soho Theatre, then touring Polly Ingham Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Pia Furtado Set designer: Georgia Lowe |
Mar 2013 |
| Equally Divided | Theatre |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Palace Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Brigid Larmour Set designer: Ruari Murchison |
Feb 2013 |
| Mother Goose | Theatre |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Palace Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Brigid Larmour Set designer: Cleo Pettit |
Dec 2012 |
| One Hour and Eighteen Minutes | Theatre |
New Diorama Theatre Sputnik Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Noah Birksted-Breen Set designer: Takis |
Nov 2012 |
| Banana Boys | Theatre |
Corbett Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Charlotte Bennett Set designer: Signe Beckmann |
Oct 2012 |
| Mummyji Presents | Theatre |
Watford Palace Theatre Rifco Arts and Watford Palace Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Pravesh Kumar Set designer: Colin Falconer |
Oct 2012 |
| Kathy Kirby: Icon | Theatre |
Etcetera Theatre Mihara Donegan |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Tim Heath Set designer: David Shields |
Aug 2012 |
| The Magic Flute | Opera |
West Green House Garsington Opera |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Karen Gillingham Set designer: Bernadette Roberts |
Jul 2012 |
| Younghusband | Theatre |
The Yard Theatre The Yard Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Greg Wohead and Martin Constantine Set designer: Mark Friend |
Jul 2012 |
| L'Hotel du Cirque | Theatre |
Cockpit Theatre E15 Acting School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Andrea Brooks Set designer: Mila Sanders |
Jun 2012 |
| The Match Box | Theatre |
Liverpool Playhouse Studio Liverpool Playhouse |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Lia Williams Set designer: Colin Richmond |
Jun 2012 |
| Walking the Tightrope | Theatre |
Arcola Tent Arcola |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Owen Calvert-Lyons Set designer: Neil Irish |
Jun 2012 |
| Red | Dance |
Robin Howard Dance Theatre The Place |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Giuliana Majo |
Apr 2012 |
| The Brothers Karamazov | Theatre |
GBS Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sue Dunderdale Set designer: Bob Bailey |
Mar 2012 |
| Cautionary Tales | Opera |
Howard Assembly Room, Grand Theatre, Leeds, then touring Opera North |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Pia Furtado Set designer: Madeleine Boyd |
Mar 2012 |
| Jealousy | Dance |
The Print Room The Print Room |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: various (see Notes) Set designer: Laurence Kavanagh |
Feb 2012 |
| Snakes and Ladders | Theatre |
Brighton Pavilion Theatre Plenty Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kerri McLean Set designer: Suneeda Maruthiyil |
Nov 2011 |
| Werther | Opera |
Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild, Nice Les Azuriales Opera |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Pia Furtado Set designer: Cordelia Chisholm |
Aug 2011 |
| 1888 | Musical | Union Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Omar F Okai and Simon James Collier Set designer: David Shields |
Jun 2011 |
| I Am a Camera | Theatre |
Rosemary Branch Theatre Cornelius Cooke Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Owen Calvert-Lyons Set designer: Amy Yardley |
May 2011 |
| Heart of Ice | Dance |
Robin Howard Dance Theatre, The Place Maaikor Dance Company |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Keren'Or Pezard |
Jan 2011 |
| Red Riding Hood | Theatre |
Theatre Royal Stratford East theatre royal stratford east |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Omar F Okai Set designer: Emma Wee |
Dec 2010 |
| Return to the Forbidden Planet | Musical |
Questors Theatre Claremont High School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Melinda Woolford Set designer: Kim Alwyn & Aimee Sajjan-Servaes |
Nov 2010 |
| Nina and Shaz | Theatre |
Rich Mix, then touring Waiting in the Dark |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Laura McCluskey Set designer: Vicky Sweatman |
Oct 2010 |
| Von Ribbentrop's Watch | Theatre |
Oxford Playhouse, then touring Oxford Playhouse |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Brigid Larmour Set designer: Emma Wee |
Sep 2010 |
| The Elixir of Love | Opera |
Blackheath Halls Blackheath Halls Opera |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Harry Fehr Set designer: Emma Melati Wee |
Jul 2010 |
| Entwined | Dance |
Robin Howard Dance Theatre Rachel Dean |
Lighting Designer | Jan 2010 | |
| Questions of Intimacy | Dance |
Robin Howard Dance Theatre Alenka Herman |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Alenka Herman |
Jan 2010 |
| Fame | Musical |
Questors Theatre Claremont High School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Melinda Woolford Set designer: Ben Gerlis |
Nov 2009 |
| Scenes from the Big Picture | Theatre |
The Poor School The Poor School |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Chris Dunham |
May 2009 |
| sohostreets | Theatre |
Soho Theatre and site specific Soho Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Suzanne Gorman Set designer: Pip Nash |
Apr 2009 |
| In Blood | Theatre |
Arcola Theatre Arcola Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Noah Birksted-Breen Set designer: Naomi Dawson |
Jan 2009 |
| French Paste | Theatre |
Shaw Theatre Theatrespot Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Richard Gallagher Set designer: Wesley Henderson-Rowe |
Jul 2008 |
| Finisterre | Theatre | Theatre 503 | Lighting Designer |
Director: Max Webster Set designer: Anna Finch |
Mar 2008 |
| Workshop Performances | Dance |
The Place London Contemporary Dance School |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Various |
Dec 2007 |
| The Slow Sword | Theatre |
Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington Sputnik Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Noah Birksted-Breen Set designer: Alice Butler |
Nov 2007 |
| Dolly West's Kitchen | Theatre |
Vanbrugh Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nick Hutchison Set designer: Alison Cartledge |
Oct 2007 |
| Songs For A New World | Musical |
Edinburgh Fringe - Roxy 1 Theatrespot Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Paul David Watson / Paul Herbert |
Aug 2007 |
| From Both Hips | Theatre |
Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington C Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Aileen Gonsalves Set designer: Mark Simmonds |
Jul 2007 |
| Superplays return - revenge of the under 11's | Theatre |
Soho Theatre Soho Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Suzanne Gorman Set designer: Brian D Hanlon |
Jul 2007 |
| Vinegar Tom | Theatre |
Vanbrugh Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jacqui Somerville Set designer: Mark Simmonds |
Jul 2007 |
| The Canterbury Tales | Theatre |
Vanbrugh Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Aileen Gonsalves Set designer: Mark Simmonds |
Jul 2007 |
| Touched | Theatre |
GBS Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: David Tucker Set designer: Cordelia Chisholm |
May 2007 |
| Barbarians | Theatre |
GBS Theatre RADA |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Simon Cox Set designer: Keith Orton |
Mar 2007 |
Location availability:
- Worldwide
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Email address |
Theatre:
- Fringe / Pub Theatre
- Regional (Main House)
- Regional (Studio)
- Touring relights
Opera:
- International
- Small scale
- Touring relights
Dance:
- Large Scale
- Medium Scale
- Touring relights
Non-professional:
- Musicals
- Plays
News
Appearing here soon... a collection of articles from the Focus magazine archives.
Portfolio
Press quotes
As You Like It
Emma Bailey’s simple designs are bathed in sumptuous lighting, designed by Charlie Lucas and Sally Ferguson.
Stephen Bates, The Public Reviews 23/09/2014
The Muddy Choir
Sound and lighting are used brilliantly to create the atmosphere and danger of Ypres. In the poignant final scene flashes of coloured light mixes with the sound to suggest explosions which pointedly drown out the voices of the men. Full credit to Elena Pena and Charlie Lucas for the authenticity this gives the play.
Maryam Philpott, The Public Reviews 24/09/2014
this production by director Natalie Wilson is simply staged with some stunning sound and lighting effects. ... Contributing greatly to the atmosphere of Natalie Wilsons’s carefully shaped production are Charlie Lucas’s lighting and the sound design of Elena Peña
Howard Loxton, British Theatre Guide 24/09/2014
The Match Box
Leanne Best is worth the price of admission alone and, along with lighting designer Charlie Lucas, deserves ample credit for a performance that is at once controlled and wild, and utterly believable.
Steve Cummins, Irish Post 20/05/2013
Colin Richmond's design of a remote and uninhabited country shack, adorned with a forlorn crucifix and rudimentary furniture, is beautifully lit by Charlie Lucas, so that McGuinness' eleven slabs of narrative acquire a sort of religious significance, like Stations of the Cross on the way to Sal's Calvary of brimstone and sulphur.
Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com 09/05/2013
Charlie Lucas' lighting is beautifully subtle – he captures excellently day turning into night through the door and window, drawing the eye closer to Sal as the light becomes sparse.
Chris Hislop, One Stop Arts 09/05/2013
Credit must be given to Colin Richmond for set design. Both simple and effective, it conveys Sal’s life stripped down to basic necessities – a grim but functional bed, table, chair. This representation of the internal being expressed by the external also applies to the set lighting. The warmth of sunlight peaking through door and window evokes the changing light from dawn to dusk, an indication of time passing and of Sal’s tenacity to find an understanding to her life.
Bambi McIntyre, Camden Review 09/05/2013
Atmosphere is created flawlessly thanks to a subtle lighting design by Charlie Lucas, never impinging the action on stage, but skilfully saying ‘I’m here.’
John Roberts, The Public Reviews 20/06/2012
Red Riding Hood
Charlie’s Lucas’s lighting is for the most part understated, but it becomes incredibly powerful when it’s used to enhance the wolf’s hypnotic ‘puffs’, its harmonious connection with the sound effects creates an intensely mesmerising experience.
Richard J Thornton, Extra! Extra! 20/12/2010
Charlie Lucas’ lighting ably sets the mood for each scene and also acts as the special effects when the wolf starts huffing and puffing...
Natalie Woolman, The Stage 16/12/2010
