Sam Waddington
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 | |
| 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
Public Domain
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
Maggot Moon
Other People’s Money
...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
Nice Work If You Can Get It
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
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
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
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
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
