Edward Saunders
Ed is a artist-designer and relighter.
His practice investigates light as a narrative vehicle, as a cue for the suspension of disbelief; across dance, opera, theatre, and cross-arts events, he works with light to frame and tell stories.
Much of Ed's work is for site-specific projects. He is Technical Director of Ante Terminum, a collaborative live-arts company that partners with artists from different disciplines to create performances in unique spaces.
Ed was represented by the Society of British Theatre Designers at the 2019 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space.
He is the recipient of a Commendation for Design from the National Student Drama Festival.
Ed is based in London.
Earlier credits include Lights Over Tesco Car Park (Poltergeist Theatre), Hedda (Peripeteia) at the Oxford Playhouse, a site-specific production of Curlew River at St Bartholomew the Great in London, an international touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (OUDS with Thelma Holt), and productions of Fatzer (Di Trevis), Rhinoceros (Gruffdog) and Ballyturk (Straightface).
Previous productions
| Show name | Type | Venue/Company | Role | Creative Team | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowpuncher My Ass | Dance | Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre | Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Holly Blakey |
Feb 2020 |
| Bedlam | Theatre |
CLF Art Cafe Theatre From The Mill Theatre Company |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Tom Hodson Set designer: Edward Saunders |
Nov 2019 |
| Marriage of Kim K | Musical |
Lowry Studio, then touring leo&hyde |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Franciska Ery Set designer: Caitlin Mawhinney |
Nov 2019 |
| War is my Condition | Dance |
The Brunel Museum Ante Terminum Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Kat Collings |
Aug 2019, Sep 2019 |
| War is my Condition | Dance |
The Brunel Museum Ante Terminum Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Kat Collings |
Aug 2019, Sep 2019 |
| Stimmung | Opera |
Pathology Museum, St Bartholomew's Hospital Ante Terminum Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Thickett |
Feb 2019 |
| Пісня/Song | Theatre |
IZONE Театр переселенця/Theatre of Displaced People |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Piotr Armianovski |
Dec 2018 |
| Бомба/Bomb | Theatre |
IZONE Театр переселенця/Theatre of Displaced People |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Daisy Hayes |
Dec 2018 |
| Лавра/Lavra | Theatre |
PostPlay Театр переселенця/Theatre of Displaced People |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Dmitry Zakhozhenko |
Dec 2018 |
| Anna Karenina - The Musical | Musical | The Actors' Church, Convent Garden | Lighting Designer |
Director: Jay Alice |
Nov 2018 |
| For You I Long The Longest | Dance |
Arts Depot, then touring Luke Brown Dance |
Lighting Designer |
Choreographer: Luke Brown |
Nov 2018 |
| Lights Over Tesco Car Park | Theatre |
The North Wall Oxford Poltergeist Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Jack Bradfield |
Jul 2018 |
| Twelfth Night | Theatre |
Saitama Arts Theatre, Japan, then touring Oxford Shakespeare Players |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Fred Weinand Set designer: Nelly Hayes |
Jun 2018 |
| Hedda | Theatre |
Oxford Playhouse Peripeteia |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Lucy Hayes Set designer: Nelly Hayes |
Feb 2018 |
| Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. | Theatre |
Michael Pilch Studio Theatre Goose |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Emma Howlett , Director: Laura Tavriger |
Jan 2018 |
| Curlew River | Opera |
St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, London Ante Terminum Productions |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Thickett Set designer: Crispin Lord |
Jan 2018 |
| Peer Gynt | Theatre |
Zoo Sanctuary, Edinburgh Gruffdog Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Sayer |
Aug 2017 |
| Rhinoceros | Theatre |
Michael Pilch Studio Gruffdog Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Sayer Set designer: Ksenia Kulakova |
Jun 2016 |
| Julius Caesar | Theatre |
Michael Pilch Studio Gruffdog Theatre |
Lighting Designer |
Director: Peter Sayer Set designer: Rachael Ince-Kitson |
Nov 2015 |
Anna Karenina - The Musical
Kitty was perfectly poised at an oblique angle to a full length mirror, giving the audience multiple views of her while the lighting beamed down red and pink – just gorgeous
Andrew Bell, Daily Info 26/11/2018
A second tuneful, delicate duet for 'The Unknown' played out bathed in mauve and turquoise, and near the end of the play there was a stunning moment where the anguished Anna left a darkened stage to be caught in a fleeting, brilliant light as she disappeared.
Andrew Bell, Daily Info 26/11/2018
For You I Long The Longest
Once again Saunders’ lighting is wonderfully inventive, casting the stage in shadows and mystery.
Josephine Leask, DanceTabs 07/12/2018
A dark, brooding atmosphere is created by Edward Saunders’ simple yet striking lighting design.
Josephine Leask, DanceTabs 07/12/2018
Theatre:
- Commercial Tour
- Regional (Main House)
- Regional (Studio)
- Small Scale Touring
- Touring relights
Musical:
- Regional (Main House)
Opera:
- 'Country House'
- Small scale
Dance:
- International
- UK National Company
- Medium Scale
- Small Scale
- Touring relights
Concert:
- Festival
Non-professional:
- Dance
- Musicals
- Opera
- Plays
Education:
- Workshops
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Email address | edsaunders.uk@gmail.com |
| Website | https://www.edwardjamessaunders.... |
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