Photograph from Amour - lighting design by Johnathan Rainsforth
Photographer: Steve Porter | From the show Amour
Photograph from Cosmonaut’s Last Message - lighting design by Johnathan Rainsforth
Photographer: Steve Porter | From the show Cosmonaut’s Last Message
Photograph from Rapunzel - lighting design by Johnathan Rainsforth
Photographer: Wycombe89 | From the show Rapunzel
Photograph from Love and Information - lighting design by Johnathan Rainsforth
Photographer: Steve Porter | From the show Love and Information
Photograph from My Uncle Freddy - lighting design by Johnathan Rainsforth
Photographer: Wycombe89 | From the show My Uncle Freddy
Johnathan Rainsforth's picture

John Rainsforth

About Me:

Based in the lovely seaside town of South Shields just outside of Newcastle.

John is a graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 2011. 

Before John became a Lighting Designer, he was on the road for the past 10 years assisting and re-creating other Lighting Designers work’s around the world taking him to places such as Shanghai, Paris, Milan and Oslo to name but a few!

Forthcoming productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative team Opens
Robin Hood - Pantomime Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Alfie Joey & Mike Brown 		24 Nov 2022

Previous productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative Team Opened
Amour Theatre Bellairs Theate
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: PHYLLIDA CROWLEY-SMITH
Set designer: Amy Yardley 		Jun 2022
Some Enchanted Evening Theatre Barn Theatre, Cirencester
Barn Theatre, Cirencester 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Milton
Set designer: Corin Hayes 		May 2022
'Speakeasy'' Dance Dance City, then touring
Southpaw Dance Company 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Robby Graham
Set designer: Rebecca Brower 		Mar 2022
Tree Theatre Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne Lighting Designer Director: Rachel Glover
 Jan 2022
Cinderella Theatre Rickmansworth Watersmeet
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Simon Jessop
Set designer: Julie Godfrey 		Dec 2021
Rapunzel Theatre The Customs House Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Sami Fendall 		Nov 2021
Cinderella Theatre Bellairs Theate
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: PHYLLIDA CROWLEY-SMITH
Set designer: Jason Denvir 		Nov 2021
Curtains Theatre Bellairs Theate
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: Nigel West
Set designer: Jason Denvir 		Nov 2021
Our Laygate Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Mina Anwar
Set designer: John Rainsforth & Gareth Hunter 		Sep 2021
We Will Rock You Theatre The Customs House Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
Set designer: John Rainsforth & Gareth Hunter 		Aug 2021
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Theatre Bellairs Theate
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Racky Plews
Set designer: P J McEvoy 		Aug 2021
Richard III Theatre Guildford School of Acting Lighting Designer Director: Nicholas Scrivens
Set designer: Rodger Ness 		Apr 2021
Arbuthnot & Dame Bella's Christmas Adventure Theatre The Customs House Lighting & Projection / Video Designer Lighting designer: John Rainsforth
Director: David Hopper
Set designer: Natasha Haws 		Dec 2020
Peter Pan Theatre Rickmansworth Watersmeet
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Michael Burgen
 Dec 2019
Cinderella Theatre Kettering Lighthouse Theatre
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Milton
 Dec 2019
Snow White Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Fox and Shriek 		Nov 2019
All About My Mother Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Hannah Bannister
Set designer: Elliott Squire 		Nov 2019
Love and Information Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Sean Linnen
Set designer: Elliott Squire 		Nov 2019
Cosmonaut’s Last Message Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Audrey Sheffield
Set designer: Elliott Squire 		Nov 2019
Dolly Mixtures The Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Mina Anwar
Set designer: David Wilkinson 		Aug 2019
Disney's High School Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
Set designer: John Rainsforth 		Aug 2019
Bobby Robson Saved My Life Theatre The Customs House, then touring
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Jamie Brown
Set designer: Gareth Hunter 		Jul 2019
Mack and Mabel Theatre The Mill Studio - Yvonne Arnaud
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: Julian Woolford
 Jun 2019
Everywhere We Go Theatre The Customs House
Boyle Yer Stotts Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Dale Meeks
 May 2019
Addams Family Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
Set designer: John Rainsforth & Gareth Hunter 		Aug 2018
My Uncle Freddy Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
 Jul 2018
End of The Peir Theatre The Customs House
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Neil Armstrong
Set designer: Gareth Hunter 		Aug 2017
Legally Blonde - The Musical Theatre Customs House, South Shields
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
Set designer: JR/GH 		Aug 2017
Educating Rita Theatre Customs House
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Johnathan Rainsforth
Director: Neil Armstrong
 Sep 2016
Dolly Mixtures The Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: David Wilkinson 		Aug 2016
Bring It On the Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House 		Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Johnathan Rainsforth
Director: Gareth Hunter
Set designer: Gareth Hunter 		Aug 2016
Alice in Wonderland Theatre The Customs House Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Fox and Shriek 		Dec 2015
Annie Theatre The Customs House
South Shields GandS 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
 Feb 2013
Aladdin Theatre Sunderland Empire
Centre Stage North East 		Lighting Designer Director: Fiona Clegg
 Jun 2012
Bugsy Malone Theatre Sunderland Empire
Ambassador Theatre Group 		Lighting Designer Director: Steve Woodridge
 Aug 2011

Our Laygate

Well-performed by a talented cast (and beautifully designed by Gareth Hunter, John Rainsforth and director Mina Anwar, who was also dramaturg)
Tracey Sinclair, The Stage 10/09/2021

Richard III

Lighting designer John Rainsforth and sound designer Vicky Wilkinson both make a considerable contribution to the atmosphere of the play, which is extremely powerful and, at times, almost frightening.
Tommy, Mobile Theatre 08/04/2021

Snow White

The lighting (John Rainsforth) adds dramatically to various scenes, changing the mood of many backdrops, such as the second half opening bathed in intense sinister red for the Evil Queen, then warm lilac's for the prince.
Anna Ambelez, TheReviewsHub 29/11/2019

Dolly Mixtures The Musical

John Rainsforth’s lighting really enhances the show. Elevating the mood of the scenes and effortlessly taking the action to various locations through lighting changes.
Steven Sullivan, North East Theatre Guide 22/08/2019

Annie

Use of back projected graphics set the atmosphere in many scenes, and was used to good effect in the minimalistic set.
20/02/2013
Theatre:
  • Touring relights
Musical:
  • West End
  • Commercial Tour
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Education Establishment
  • Touring relights
Opera:
  • Touring relights
Dance:
  • Touring relights
Corporate:
  • Conferences
Non-professional:
  • Dance
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Projection / Video Design
Education:
  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Training
Contact method Details
Website

www.johnrainsforth.com
Agent name Tom - Brewis Scott Associates
Agent email info@brewisscottassociates.com

Appearing here soon... a collection of articles from the Focus magazine archives.