The ALD has revealed the winners of this year’s Awards for Excellence, which exist to highlight the new generation of young production talent emerging from UK universities.
The winning students have all created award-winning portfolios that succeed in demonstrating their skills to best advantage, in a disrupted year where the number of lighting opportunities available to them may have been reduced.
Winners are traditionally announced at the Annual Lighting Lunch but will this year be showcased to the ALD membership via its bi-monthly magazine, Focus, and then through the ALD’s social media channels in a two-week series of posts.
Indicative of the ALD’s widening membership base, the Fred Foster Award for Production Electrics, the most recent addition to the awards portfolio, proved to be a popular choice receiving many applications this year.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s, Liam Sayer, rose to the top of the ranks to win this award. The judges appreciated his attention to detail, his innovation and problem solving. They also commented that his testimonials were impressive and shone alongside a clearly articulated work ethic.
The coveted Michael Northen Award for Lighting Design was won this year by Euan Davis of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA). The judges were very impressed by his research and demonstrated collaboration abilities which he used to break a complex play into parts to find a language for each piece. They also commented on the flair he showed in the use of his rigs.
Josie Ireland, studying this year for A-Levels, received a well-deserved Francis Reid Award for Best Emerging Lighting Designer. The judges praised Josie’s use of video with lighting as well as her versatility and clarity as a designer. The judges were impressed with how she integrated feedback from previous years’ applications to inform and evolve her work.
The Blue-I Theatre Technology Award for Excellence in Video went to Liam Strong (Guildhall School of Music and Drama). The judges felt he had worked incredibly hard on his portfolio which demonstrated the beautiful designs he had created. One judge commented that Liam was one to watch as “the next big thing in video!”
ALD Chair, Johanna Town, said: “I’m overwhelmed this year by the response to the awards and the dedication demonstrated by the entrants. Each of the winners has demonstrated real flair in their chosen discipline as well as determination – and that gives me great hope as they begin to forge their professional paths.”