Paul Colwell

Biography

I am a theatre maker and teacher. Prior to joining Central in 2013, and after a brief spell in the West End and some pivotal experience as a project manager for White Light, I engaged in a freelance career. This gave me freedom to hop between a wide variety of projects. As a lighting designer, I relish intimate theatre productions where the audience are up close and personal with the performers (in venues such as Park Theatre, Southwark Playhouse and Trafalgar Studio Two). As a photographer, I specialise in encapsulating the motion of dance in static images. One of my most rewarding projects was the setting up and running of my photography studio, with custom designed, specialist facilities to assist in capturing dance. I also enjoy the challenges of production management for events in diverse locations. I have been involved with managing projects as quirky as lighting up the London Eye from a jetty on the Thames; a son et lumière at Windsor Castle; transforming the Royal Courts of Justice, and transmogrifying a cattle shed in the Cotswolds into an opera house for Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Working on the principle that a break is as good as a change; between one-off projects I have enjoyed traveling with various touring productions, for companies including English Touring Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Henri Oguike Dance Company. This enabled me to make my way across Europe, America and China.

Research Interest

Lighting Design Production Lighting Production Management Photographing Dance