Ian Saunders
Biography
Ian studied at Rose Bruford College and since graduating he has designed the lighting for various scales of shows throughout the UK ranging from regional repertory theatre, through fringe theatres and also including touring shows. The styles of shows are just as varied whether they are straight plays, musicals, opera, comedy or site specific theatre in a department store, nightclub or tent.
He has also been the Associate Lighting Designer for the National Theatre production of 'An Inspector Calls' as produced by PW Productions between 2005 & 2015 where he has re-created Rick Fisher's award winning lighting design for three UK Tours, and Australian tour and two West End Seasons (2009/10).
Previous productions
Previous productions
| Show name | Type | Venue/Company | Role | Creative Team | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oh What A Lovely War! | Theatre |
Arts University Bournemouth Film Studio Arts University Bournemouth |
Lighting Designer | May 2018 | |
| Bonnie and Clyde - The Musical | Musical |
Bernie Grant Arts Centre Mountview Academy |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Tim Luscombe Set designer: Colin Mayes |
Mar 2015 |
| Oh What A Lovely War! | Theatre |
Lighthouse, Poole Arts University Bournemouth |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kenneth Robertson Set designer: Sylvain Perez-Jacobs |
May 2014 |
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Theatre |
Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jaq Bessell Set designer: Neil Irish |
Feb 2014 |
| Les Miserables | Theatre |
Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jonathan Holloway Set designer: Neil Irish |
Jan 2014 |
| Half a sixpence | Musical |
Bernie Grant Arts Centre Mountview Academy |
Lighting Designer |
Director: James Powell Set designer: Colin Mayes |
Nov 2013 |
| Jerry Springer The Opera | Musical |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Charlotte Conquest Set designer: Colin Mayes |
Feb 2013 |
| Nicholas Nickleby | Theatre |
Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jonathan Holloway Set designer: Neil Irish |
Nov 2012 |
| Don Juan Comes Back From The War | Theatre |
Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Xavier Leret Set designer: Nicolai Hart-Hansen |
May 2012 |
| Spring Awakening | Musical |
Ivy Arts Centre, University of Surrey Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Charlotte Conquest Set designer: Neil Irish |
Feb 2012 |
| Iolanthe | Theatre |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley G&S Society |
Lighting Designer | Jan 2012 | |
| Jack and the Beanstalk | Theatre | Watford Palace Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Kate Saxon Set designer: Cleo Pettitt |
Nov 2011 |
| A Little Night Music | Musical |
Bernie Grant Arts Centre Mountview |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jacqui Somerville Set designer: Mia Flodquist |
Jul 2011 |
| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Musical |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Tim Flavin Set designer: Roger Ness |
Jun 2011 |
| Terrorism | Theatre |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ken McClymont Set designer: Ken McClymont |
May 2011 |
| The Full Monty | Musical |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer | Set designer: Scenic Projects Ltd | May 2011 |
| Krunch | Theatre |
The Albany, Deptford, then touring Talawa Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer | Set designer: Susannah Henry | Mar 2011 |
| Nine - The Musical | Musical |
Bellairs Playhouse Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Marilyn Cutts Set designer: PJ McEvoy |
Feb 2011 |
| Buried Child | Theatre |
Cockpit Theatre, London Mountview |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Richard Vincent Set designer: Caroline Reid |
Feb 2011 |
| HMS Pinafore | Musical |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley Gilbert & Sullivan Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Clive Bebee |
Jan 2011 |
| Trial By Jury | Musical |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley Gilbert & Sullivan Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Clive Bebee |
Jan 2011 |
| Rapunzel (or the Magic Pig) | Theatre |
The Mirror Tent at BMW Oxford Creation Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Charlotte Conquest Set designer: Lucy Wilkinson |
Nov 2010 |
| Her Naked Skin | Theatre |
Bellairs Playhouse Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Harris Set designer: Tina Gardiner |
Nov 2010 |
| Beauty and the Beast | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Alan Cox Set designer: Scenic Projects Ltd |
May 2010 |
| The Country Wife | Non-professional |
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Suffolk Youth Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Michael Platt |
Apr 2010 |
| Frogs | Non-professional |
Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury St Gabriels Schools, Newbury |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sue Baxter |
Mar 2010 |
| Dracula | Theatre |
Lighthouse Theatre, Poole Arts University College Bournemouth |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ellie Nixon Set designer: Bruno Santini |
Mar 2010 |
| Beauty and the Beast | Theatre |
Mirror Tent, BMW Oxford Creation Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sarah Punshon Set designer: Rachel Canning |
Nov 2009 |
| Sweeney Todd | Non-professional |
Alban Arena - St. Albans St. Albans Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Alan Cox Set designer: Scenic Projects Ltd |
Oct 2009 |
| Krunch | Theatre |
Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Tottenham Talawa Young People's Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Amani Naphtali Set designer: Rajha Shakiry |
Jul 2009 |
| The Mikado | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley G&S Society |
Lighting Designer | Jan 2009 | |
| Hans Christian Andersen's Magical Tales | Theatre |
Mirror Tent at BMW Oxford Creation Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Caroline Leslie Set designer: Tom Rogers |
Nov 2008 |
| The Baby | Theatre | Academy of Live & Records Arts | Lighting Designer |
Director: Glen Walford |
Nov 2008 |
| Children of Eden | Non-professional |
Leatherhead Theatre Stagecoach Theatre Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Erica Lawrence |
Aug 2008 |
| Make Love, Not War? | Theatre |
Drill Hall, London Talawa Young People's Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Thierry Lawson Set designer: Lise Marker |
Aug 2008 |
| A Night Out | Theatre |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ken McClymont Set designer: Roger Ness |
May 2008 |
| Serious Money | Theatre |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Gari Jones Set designer: Roger Ness |
May 2008 |
| Chess | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Alan Cox Set designer: Scenic Projects Ltd |
Apr 2008 |
| Woyzeck | Theatre |
Southwark Playhouse Carboard Citizens |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adrian Jackson Set designer: Fred Meller |
Feb 2008 |
| Twelfth Night | Theatre |
The Theatre, Chipping Norton Oxford School of Drama |
Lighting Designer |
Director: George Peck Set designer: Sophie Jump |
Feb 2008 |
| Ruddigore | Musical |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley G&S Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Linda Dyne |
Jan 2008 |
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Theatre |
Trestle Arts Base, St. Albans, then touring OVO |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adam Nichols |
Nov 2007 |
| State Fair | Musical |
Main Theatre, Arts Educational Arts Ed |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Robert Howie Set designer: Tim McQuillan Wright |
Oct 2007 |
| Charity Wars | Theatre |
Pleasance, London StoneCrabs Productions Ltd |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Natascha Metherell Set designer: Richard Andrzejewski |
Sep 2007 |
| Annie | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Alan Cox Set designer: Owen Williams |
May 2007 |
| Hello Again | Theatre |
Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Sarah Chew Set designer: David Crisp |
Feb 2007 |
| O Go My Man | Theatre |
Crescent Theatre, Birmingham Birmingham School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Natalie Wilson Set designer: David Crisp |
Feb 2007 |
| The Gondoliers | Theatre |
Watford Palace Theatre Abbots Langley G&S Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Mike Monk |
Jan 2007 |
| Timon of Athens | Theatre |
Shakespeare Centre,Stratford upon Avon, then touring Cardboard Citizens / RSC |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Adrian Jackson Set designer: Fred Mellor |
Oct 2006 |
| Inglorious Technicolour | Theatre |
McCarthy Auditorium Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Laurie Sansom Set designer: Philip Witcomb |
Jun 2006 |
| Kiss Me Kate | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Watford Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Alan Cox Set designer: Martin Smith |
May 2006 |
| Titanic : The Musical | Musical |
Electric Theatre, Guildford Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Gerry Tebbutt Set designer: David Collis |
Feb 2006 |
| The Wizard of Oz | Musical |
New Theatre, Oxford Pele Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: David Fleeshman Set designer: Scenic Projects Ltd |
Dec 2005 |
| Fiddler on the Roof | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Cassio Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nikki Scott Set designer: Martin Smith |
Oct 2005 |
| Into The Woods | Musical |
The New Players Theatre, London Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Ken Caswell Set designer: Susannah Henry |
Oct 2005 |
| The Shy Gas Man | Theatre |
Southwark Playhouse Sweetheart Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Garry Cooper Set designer: Chloe Lamford |
Feb 2005 |
| Anne of Green Gables | Theatre |
Bellairs Playhouse Guildford School of Acting |
Lighting Designer |
Director: William Renton Set designer: Roger Ness |
Nov 2004 |
| The King and I | Non-professional |
Watford Palace Theatre Cassio Operatic Society |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Nikki Scott Set designer: Elly Rogers |
Nov 2004 |
| Grass Is Always Greener | Theatre |
Studio 1, Battersea Arts Centre Al & Joe |
Lighting Designer | Oct 2004 | |
| The Smallest Person | Theatre |
Pod Deco, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then touring Trestle Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Emily Gray Set designer: Tim Meacock |
Aug 2004 |
| The Ring Road Tales | Environmental |
Destiny Nightclub, Watford Palace Theatre, Watford |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Kirsty Davis Set designer: Chloe Lamford |
Nov 2003 |
| Lucia di Lammermoor | Opera |
Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, then touring New Sussex Opera |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Michael Ruta-Moxham Set designer: Jason Southgate |
Sep 2003 |
| News From the Seventh Floor | Environmental |
Clements Department Store, Watford Wilson & Wilson |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Wils Wilson Set designer: Louise Wilson |
May 2003 |
| Macbeth | Theatre |
Corn Exchange, Newbury, then touring Young Shakespeare Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Christopher Geelan Set designer: Bridget Kimak |
Oct 2002 |
| Il Cappello di Paglia di Firenze | Opera |
Cochrane Theatre, London Trinity College of Music |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Michael Ruta-Moxham Set designer: Jason Southgate |
Jul 2001 |
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Theatre |
Manchester Library Theatre, then touring Lip Service |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Lawrence Till Set designer: Richard Foxton |
May 2001 |
| Cor Blimey | Theatre | Palace Theatre, Watford | Lighting Designer |
Director: Lawrence Till Set designer: Richard Foxton |
Sep 2000 |
| The Brick | Theatre | Man In The Moon Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Michael Ruta-Moxham Set designer: Jason Southgate |
May 2000 |
| Three Steps To Heaven | Musical | Palace Theatre, Watford | Lighting Designer |
Director: Clifford Milner Set designer: Rebecca Janaway |
Feb 2000 |
| Talent | Theatre | Mercury Theatre, Colchester, then touring | Lighting Designer |
Director: Joanna Read Set designer: Nancy Surman |
Aug 1999 |
| Passport to Danger | Theatre | Palace Theatre Watford | Lighting Designer |
Director: Laurie Sansom Set designer: Matt Walker |
Jun 1999 |
| Burglar Beware | Theatre |
Rose & Crown Theatre, Hampton Wick Grip Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Steve Canny Set designer: Stuart Howcraft |
Jun 1999 |
| Gaffer | Theatre |
Rose & Crown Theatre, Hampton Wick Grip Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Martin Richards Set designer: Max Scianna |
Apr 1999 |
| Darkness Falls | Theatre | Palace Theatre Watford | Lighting Designer |
Director: Giles Croft Set designer: Nick Sargent |
Jan 1999 |
| Love Bites | Theatre |
Palace Theatre, Watford, then touring Palace Theatre Watford Education Dept |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Bernadette Moran Set designer: Fiona Watt |
Mar 1998 |
| Wait Until Dark | Theatre | Palace Theatre Watford | Lighting Designer |
Director: Giles Croft Set designer: Neil Irish |
Jan 1998 |
| It's Now Or Never | Theatre | Chester Gateway Theatre | Lighting Designer |
Director: Jeremy Raison Set designer: Jessica Tyrwhitt |
May 1996 |
| The Traitor | Theatre |
Bridewell Theatre, London 606 Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Gordon Anderson Set designer: Tom Hadley |
Aug 1994 |
Location availability:
- Australasia & Asia Pacific
- North America
- Scotland
- UK London
- UK Provinces
- Western Europe & Scandinavia
- Worldwide
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Email address | iansaunders@west15.co.uk |
Theatre:
- Commercial Tour
- Regional (Main House)
- Regional (Studio)
- Fringe / Pub Theatre
- Touring relights
Musical:
- Regional (Main House)
- Regional (Studio)
Opera:
- Small scale
Corporate:
- Exhibition Stands
- Fashion Shows
- Award Ceremonies
Architectural:
- Displays & Art
Non-professional:
- Musicals
- Plays
News
Appearing here soon... a collection of articles from the Focus magazine archives.
Portfolio
Oh What A Lovely War!
The Importance of Being Earnest
Les Miserables
Krunch
Buried Child
Dracula
Beauty and the Beast
Krunch
Hans Christian Andersen's Magical Tales
The Baby
Make Love, Not War?
A Night Out
Serious Money
Chess
Woyzeck
Charity Wars
Annie
Hello Again
O Go My Man
The Gondoliers
Timon of Athens
Inglorious Technicolour
Kiss Me Kate
Titanic : The Musical
Fiddler on the Roof
Into The Woods
The Shy Gas Man
The Smallest Person
The Ring Road Tales
Lucia di Lammermoor
News From the Seventh Floor
Il Cappello di Paglia di Firenze
The Importance of Being Earnest
Three Steps To Heaven
Burglar Beware
It's Now Or Never
Press quotes
Krunch
Dracula
The Mikado
Lighting by Ian Saunders was superb
Josie Shingles, London District Area 10, NODA Review 24/01/2009
Woyzeck
Fred Meller's set, with its swirly carpets, tatty furniture and pinging microwave, resembles a drop-in centre for the marginalised. It all feels at once brutally real and grotesquely nightmarish
Sam Marlowe, The Times 07/03/2008
Titanic : The Musical
Ian Saunders’s lighting, which has to do a lot of the scenic work on the busy, crowded stage, marks him out as much more than a jobbing LD.
Ian Herbert, ALD's Focus 01/03/2006
