Photograph from The Sake - lighting design by Azusa Ono
Photographer: Roberto Ricciuti | From the show The Sake
Photograph from Silica - lighting design by Azusa Ono
Photographer: Mark Newton | From the show Silica
Photograph from The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock - lighting design by Azusa Ono
Photographer: Kayleigh Hunt | From the show The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock
Photograph from Madmen in the Courtyard - lighting design by Azusa Ono
Photographer: MTC | From the show Madmen in the Courtyard
Photograph from The Sake - lighting design by Azusa Ono
Photographer: Roberto Ricciuti | From the show The Sake
Azusa Ono's picture

Azusa Ono

Azusa has been creating lighting design for a range of live performances and art forms, challenging the boundary of the theatre frame by widening & shifting the perspective through lighting. She enjoys the process of collaboration with creatives. To inspire each other’s element is the best ingredient to a show. She trained fine arts in Japan and lighting design at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2003-07.

Forthcoming productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative team Opens
BLUE ORANGE Theatre Birmingham Rep
Birmingham Rep 		Lighting Designer Director: Daniel Bailey
Set designer: Amelia Jane Hankin 		01 Feb 2019
Lao Can Impression Theatre Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, then touring
Chinese Arts Now 		Lighting Designer Director: An-Ting Chang
 30 Jan 2019

Previous productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative Team Opened
Love Lies Bleeding Theatre The Print Room, London
The Print Room 		Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
Set designer: Lily Arnold 		Nov 2018
Thick As Thieves Theatre Theatre Clwyd, then touring
Clean Break 		Lighting Designer Director: Roisin McBrinn
Set designer: Alyson Cummins 		Oct 2018
Aurora Environmental Toxteth Reservoir
Invisible Flock 		Lighting Designer Director: Victoria Pratt
 Sep 2018
Abandon Theatre Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Hammersmith 		Lighting Designer Director: Anne-Louise Sarks
 Jun 2018
SMACK THAT Theatre Pit Theatre, Barbican Centre, then touring
Rhiannon Faith Company 		Lighting Designer Set designer: Amelia Jane Hankin Jun 2018
Concubine Theatre The Door Birmingham REP
Birmingham Rep / Andrew Welch 		Lighting Designer Director: Daniel Bailey
Set designer: Claire Browne 		May 2018
Effigies of Wickedness Opera Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, London, UK
ENO & The Gate Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Ellen McDougall
 May 2018
Hotei Live Streaming Concert British Grove Studio
DADA Music 		Lighting Designer Mar 2018
TATE LIVE EXHIBITION - TEN DAYS SIX NIGHTS Environmental TATE MODERN - TANKS
Tate Modern 		Lighting Designer Director: Joan Jonas
 Mar 2018
Yvette Theatre Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, then touring
China Plate 		Lighting Designer Director: Gbolahan Obisesan
Set designer: Giorgia Joseph 		Mar 2018
MOOT MOOT Theatre The Yard Theatre, then touring
Rosana Cade 		Lighting Designer Director: Rosana Cade and Eilidh MacAskill
 Jan 2018
Cuttin' It School Tour Theatre London Schools, then touring
Royal Court Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Anastasia Osei-Kuffour
Set designer: Joanna Scotcher 		Jan 2018
Illuminight Environmental Tabacco Dock
Cross Media Ltd. 		Lighting Designer Director: Naotaka Haga
 Nov 2017
KAIROS Opera V&A Museum, London
Anat Ben -David 		Lighting Designer Director: Anat Ben -David
 Jul 2017
Becoming Invisible - Art Night Environmental Bascule Chamber, Tower Bridge
Whitechapel Gallery 		Lighting Designer Director: Ian Whittlesea
 Jul 2017
Theo Adams Environmental Hoi Polloi - Ace Hotel London Shoreditch
Theo Adams 		Lighting Designer Director: Theo Adams
 Jun 2017
KILLER Environmental Shoreditch Town Hall (site specific)
Shoreditch Town Hall 		Lighting Designer Director: Jamie Lloyd
Set designer: Soutra Gilmour 		Feb 2017
Shoot the Sissy Theatre Chelsea Theatre
Nando Messias 		Lighting Designer Director: Nando Messias
 Oct 2016
The Sissy's Progress Dance Artsadmin Lighting Designer Choreographer: Nando Messias
 Oct 2016
DARKNESS, DARKNESS Theatre Nottingham Playhouse
New Perspectives Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
Set designer: Ruth Sutcliffe 		Sep 2016
Cuttin' It Theatre Young Vic (Maria), then touring
Young Vic 		Lighting Designer Director: Gbolahan Obisesan
Set designer: Joanna Scotcher 		May 2016
The Tiger's Bones and Other Stories Theatre Nottingham Lakeside, then touring
New Perspectives Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
Set designer: Amelia Jane Hankin 		Feb 2016
Miki Imai Concert Concert Cadogan Hall
DADA Music 		Lighting Designer Director: Tomoyasu Hotei
 Jan 2016
I Know All The Secrets In My World Theatre Latitude, then touring
Tiata Fahodzi 		Lighting Designer Director: Natalie Ibu
Set designer: Alyson Cummins 		Jul 2015
Dot, Squiggle and Rest Opera Royal Opera House, then touring
Polka Theate 		Lighting Designer Director: Joy Haynes
Set designer: Michalis Kokkoliadis 		Jun 2015
Peddling Theatre Arcola Theatre
HighTide Festival Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Steven Atkinson
Set designer: Lily Arnold 		Mar 2015
Playland Theatre Derby Theatre, then touring
New Perspectives 		Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
Set designer: Hyemi Shin 		Feb 2015
Miki Imai Concert Concert Cadogan Hall
DADA Music 		Lighting Designer Jan 2015
How Nigeria Became a Story and a Spear that Didn't Work Theatre Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Gbolahan Obisesan
 Oct 2014
The Sake Theatre New Town Theatre
Den Entertainment 		Lighting Designer Director: David Junya Yamada
Set designer: Hiroko Matsuo 		Aug 2014
Peddling Theatre New York 59E59, then touring
HighTide Festival Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Steven Atkinson
Set designer: Lily Arnold 		Apr 2014
We Are Proud to Present... Theatre Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Gbolahan Obisesan
Set designer: Lisa Marie Hall 		Feb 2014
The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock Theatre Curve Theatre Leicester, then touring
New Perspectives 		Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
Set designer: Juliet Shilligford 		Sep 2013
Three Colours Theatre Polka Theatre, then touring
Polka Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Joy Haynes
Set designer: Michalis Kokkoliadis 		Jun 2013
Unto The Breach Theatre Artsdepot (Pentland Theatre)
Alzaytouna 		Lighting Designer Director: Ahmed Masoud
 Nov 2012
The Word for Snow Theatre Southbank Centre, Parcell Room Lighting Designer Director: Jack Mcnamara
 Jul 2012
Little Sunshine Little Rainfall Theatre Artsdepot, then touring
A Thousand Cranes 		Lighting Designer Director: Vicky Ireland & Kumiko Mendl
 Jun 2012
7 Day Drunk Theatre Soho Theatre, then touring
Bryony Kimmings 		Lighting Designer Director: Bryony Kimmings
 Mar 2012
Angoscia Dance The Place
Divo 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Olga Masleinnikova
 Feb 2012
Copyright Christmas Theatre Barbican Centre
Duckie 		Lighting Designer Director: Mark Whitelaw
Set designer: Robin Whitmore 		Dec 2011
Fanfared Environmental Sheffield Theatre - The Crucible
Invisible Flock 		Lighting Designer Director: Victoria Pratt
 Nov 2011
Fallen Fruit Theatre Trestle Arts Base, then touring Lighting Designer Director: Katherina Radeva
 Oct 2011
When the Chickens Come Home to Roost Theatre Brixton Empire Lighting Designer Director: Daljinder Singh
Set designer: Fausto Izzi 		Oct 2011
Halcyon Days Theatre Riverside Studios
W-Squared Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Shoji Kokami
Set designer: Lone Schackensen 		Aug 2011
Tarka the Otter Opera Pavilion Arts Centre
Buxton Arts Festival 		Lighting Designer Director: Robin Tebbutt
Set designer: Richard Aylwin 		Jul 2011
How Happy We Would Be Dance Dilston Grove & Tate Modern, then touring
Corali Dance Company 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Jacobus Flynn
 May 2011
Choreogata Dance Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, then touring
Akademi 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Revanta Sarabhai, Anusha Kedhar & Ankur Bahl
 Apr 2011
Keeping Mum Theatre Brockley Jack Studio Theatre Lighting Designer Director: Rebecca Manson Jones
 Mar 2011
The Best of The Little Big Woman Theatre Oval House Theatre, then touring
Dualimpact Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Trix Worrell
Set designer: Alex Marker 		Mar 2011
A Song of Love Theatre Gate Theatre
ATC 		Lighting Designer Director: Gbolahan Obisesan
Set designer: Lucy Sierra 		Jan 2011
Old Bags Theatre New Wimbledon Studio
Lumenis Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: Jonaathan Man
Set designer: Ricardo Pardo 		Oct 2010
Silica Theatre Theatre in the Mill
Development Lab 		Lighting Designer Director: Victoria Pratt
 May 2010
Oliver Cromwell: The Musical Opera St Alfege Church
TCM 		Lighting Designer Director: Alan Taylor
 Feb 2010
6 Minutes Before Dance The Place
Divo Company 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Olga Masleinnikova
 Feb 2010
Improvements on Nature Theatre Chelsea Theatre
Julia Bardsley 		Lighting Designer Director: Julia Bardsley (Artist)
Set designer: Julia Bardsley 		Nov 2009
Burmese Days Theatre UCL
Aya Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: Ryan Kiggell
Set designer: George Moustakas 		Nov 2009
Broken Chase Dance Laban Lighting Designer Choreographer: Kathleya Afanador
 Sep 2009
The Assault / The Last Days of Gilda Theatre The Old Red Lion
Alter Ego 		Lighting Designer Director: Victor Esses
Set designer: George Moustakas / Sophie Mosberger 		Aug 2009
Aftermaths: a tear in the meat of vision Theatre Laban, then touring
Julia Bardsley 		Lighting Designer Director: Julia Bardsley
 Apr 2009
The Feast of the Ants Theatre Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Arthouse (Edinburgh Fringe Festival)
Mugensha Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: So-un Kotakebayashi
Set designer: Shohey YAMASHITA 		Jul 2008
LaXuLa (a.m.a) Concert Carling Academy Islington
LaXuLa (a.m.a) 		Lighting Designer Director: Monte Palafox
 Jun 2008
Chanbara Dance several theatres in Europe, then touring
Yamato 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Wataru Koga
 Aug 2007
Live Like Pigs Theatre Embassy Studio
CSSD 		Lighting Designer Director: Crispin Bonham-Carter
Set designer: Maira Vazeou 		Mar 2007
Solo Spotlights Concert Wapping Hydraulic Power Station
SPNM 		Lighting Designer Director: Rolf Hind
Set designer: Julia Bardsley 		Mar 2007
Grey Foam Theatre Theatro Technis
Grey Foam Production 		Lighting Designer Director: George Eugeniou
 Nov 2006
Madmen in the Courtyard Theatre Theatro Technis
Mugensha Theatre Company 		Lighting Designer Director: So-un Kotakebayashi
Set designer: Shohey YAMASHITA 		Oct 2006
Where the shoe pinches... Theatre Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Curious Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Holly McClelland
 Aug 2006
The Rimers of Eldritch Theatre Embassy Studio Lighting Designer Director: Angie Langfield
 Jun 2006
Fxxked (short film) Environmental Filmed in North London
TRIPTONIC PRODUCTIONS 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Wallis
 May 2006
St Stephen’s Church Project Environmental St Stephen’s Church, London Lighting Designer Director: Michael Taylor
 Feb 2006
Deep End Environmental Marshall Street Baths, London
Corridor 		Lighting Designer Director: Gerry Pilgrim
 Dec 2005
Ubugoe ~first voice~ Environmental Tokyo Meguro Art Gallery, Japan
Kuttion 		Lighting Designer Director: Azusa Ono
 Feb 2004
Art Festival Echigo Tsumari Triennale Concert Mastudai Nobutai Theatre, Nigata, Japan
Art Front Gallery 		Lighting Designer Director: Furamu Kitagawa
 Jul 2003

DARKNESS, DARKNESS

“Gripping stuff… One of the best pieces of theatre I have seen in years.”
Steve Orme, British Theatre Guide 15/10/2016
“SUPREMELY STYLISH”
Sam Marlowe, The Times 07/10/2016

Cuttin' It

★★★★★ “A shining example of theatre tackling a burning contemporary issue and getting it absolutely right…70 of the finest minutes of drama 2016 is likely to offer”
Fiona Mountford, The Evening Standard 02/06/2016
★★★★ “Unblinking, devastatingly powerful”
Sam Marlowe, The Times 01/06/2016
★★★★ “Quietly arresting”
Matt Trueman, WhatsOnStage 31/05/2016
★★★★ “Sharp, sickly two-hander”
Alice Saville, Time Out 31/05/2016
★★★★ “See it and weep”
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian 31/05/2016
★★★★ “Unforgettable”
Claire Allfree, The Telegraph 28/05/2016
★★★★ "...powerful...Azusa Ono’s harsh lighting"
Julia Rank, The Stage 28/05/2016

Peddling

'★★★★★ ‘The lights (by Azusa Ono) come up on an austere landscape at what feels like the intersection of Beckett and Albee...’ — New York Times (Critic’s Choice)''
LAURA COLLINS-HUGHES, 02/05/2014
★★★★★ ‘The lights (by Azusa Ono) come up on an austere landscape at what feels like the intersection of Beckett and Albee...’ — New York Times (Critic’s Choice)
LAURA COLLINS-HUGHES, New York Times 02/05/2014

Playland

"An excellent evening's entertainment...very moving" Londontheatre1

The Sake

**** Such is the theme of this very entertaining mini-extravaganza of traditional and contemporary Japanese dance, multimedia and other elements, attractively staged...eclectic and visually beautiful...
Brian Cooper, The Stage Edinburgh 08/08/2014

The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock

Visually as well as aurally absorbing...
Pat Ashworth, Stage 02/10/2013
**** Rudkin's darkly riveting play brilliantly demonstrates the way Hitchcock's art is the key to his life
Michael Billington, The Guardian 01/10/2013

7 Day Drunk

'...visually stunning.''
Time Out 12/03/2012

When the Chickens Come Home to Roost

Singh's production, dark and dreamy thanks to Azusa Ono's minimal lighting, boasts fantastic performances...
Matt Trueman, TimeOut 17/10/2011

Halcyon Days

... an effective lighting design from Azusa Ono which facilitates the shifts in tone.
Ian Foster, oughttobeclowns 24/08/2011
Theatre:
  • International
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Regional (Studio)
Opera:
  • 'Country House'
Dance:
  • Medium Scale
Concert:
  • Stage Touring
Corporate:
  • Exhibition Stands
  • Fashion Shows
Architectural:
  • Displays & Art
  • Open Air Events
Contact method Details
Mobile phone

07709 767549
Email address

azusaono@icloud.com