Anthony Arblaster

Thesis

Thesis

Thesis - Towards a Light-Dramaturgy: Techniques and Practice of Dramaturgy with Lighting Design

Supervisors: Katherine Graham and Rebecca Benzie

This research is focused on developing tools for lighting designers for live performance to be effective dramaturgs. While the responsibility to serve the performance rests with all members of a production, lighting designers are well-placed to be vital contributors to the formation of the dramaturgical journey. Lighting design is often brought into a production late, allowing the Lighting Designer to reflect critically on the audience experience. Lighting Designers also have the specific technical experience, and the artistic language to sit at the fulcrum between what is possible and what is desired. The combination of these elements allows a lighting designer to effectively advocate for the audience. Combining creative practice and the collection of folk-knowledge, the PhD applies dramaturgical techniques to the practice of lighting design to form a tool kit for practicing artists. 

Biography

Biography

Anthony is a lighting designer and educator from Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Australia. He has worked as a lighting designer for theatre, opera, and dance, in the UK, Australia and internationally.  His lighting design portfolio includes productions for The Royal Court (London), The Barbican, Battersea Arts Centre, Trinity Laban, RADA and Canberra Theatre Centre. Anthony is particularly passionate about new writing. Anthony was associate to Ben Ormerod for 8 years, working across, theatre, dance and opera in the UK and internationally.

Anthony is the Deputy Head of Lighting and Course Leader on the MA Lighting Design Programme at RADA. He teaches lighting design, production electrics, and lighting programming on the Academy's practice-based courses. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research, practice and teaching are interlinked and inform each other.

Anthony has Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Stage Electrics and Lighting Design from Kings College, London and RADA. 

Research

Research Interests

Lighting design for performance, dramaturgy, theatre, scenography.

External activity

External activity

Performance
2018 – The Woods by Robert Allen Evans, dir. Lucy Morrison, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, London
2019 – Unbecoming by Cathy Pecotz, dir. Cathy Pecotz, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre.
2020 – King Lear by William Shakespear, dir. Rachel Valentine Smith, Jerwood Vanbrugh Theatre, RADA
2021 – Living Newspaper: Edition 3 by The Company, dir. The Company, Site Specific, Royal Court Theatre, London
2021 – Living Newspaper: Edition 4 by The Company, dir. The Company, Site Specific, Royal Court Theatre, London
2022 – You're Safe Till 2024: Deep History by David Finnigan, dir. Annette Mees, Pit, Barbican Theatre
2023 – Home by The Company, dir. Krisitine Langon-Smith, GBS Theatre, RADA
2023 – Resitive by The Company, dir. Guilliame Pepe, GBS Theatre, RADA
2023 – Frankenstein, or the Modern Promethus by Libby Larsen, dir. John Ramster, Blackheath Halls, Trinity Laban