In conversation with BA Production Arts (Theatre Technology) student Rohan Green

We spoke to final-year BA Production Arts (Theatre Technology) student Rohan Green about his journey into Production Arts and lighting The Welkin.

Hear from third year student Rohan as he reflects on what drew him to study at Guildhall, his experience lighting The Welkin, and the skills he’s carrying forward as he prepares for a career in lighting design.

You are now in your final year at Guildhall. Can you explain why you chose to study Production Arts and specifically Theatre Technology?

I had previously done bits of lighting work across a variety of youth theatre and amateur shows, so when looking at options after college, I started thinking about how to take that forward into a career. I knew someone who had previously studied Stage Management who had spoken very highly of the course and the School, so I thought I would come for an open day.

What was your role in The Welkin?

I was the lighting designer for The Welkin, which means I act as the creative link between the director and designer, and the technical side of the lighting. It is my responsibility to design a rig that fits the needs of the play, specify any practical's that need building, and work with the director and creative team during tech to create the show.

Looking back, what moment or aspect of your design are you most proud of, and why?

I’m particularly proud of the final sequence at the end of the show, where we end up in sunset for the climax of the play, as I lit it quite differently from how I would normally light and I was really pleased with the result and how it was able to heighten the emotion of the final scene.

Was there any technical or creative challenges you overcame?

The majority of the show is 14 characters onstage in one room, playing out in real time. It was challenging to light all the cast and keep the show dynamic and changing to reflect the scene while also keeping the reality of the situation. I played a lot with the direction of light to show the passing of time, doing long, slow fades between systems of light and subtle shifts of colour to take us from early afternoon through sunset at the end of the play, trying to make the changes subtle enough that audiences didn’t notice them until they were complete.

Tell us about your experience working with a professional Director and Set Designer, and what kind of support did you receive from the Theatre Technology department?

Working alongside Mumba and Stella-Jane (Director and designer) was a great experience; they were both really open to ideas coming from Production Arts students and created a collaborative environment. The staff in the Theatre Technology department are brilliant as they know when to get involved and when to take a step back and let students learn independently.

Where do you see yourself taking your lighting design practice after graduation - what kinds of work excite you most?

I hope to expand my work as a programmer and designer, and to also take on associate and assistant design roles, which I’ve enjoyed recently. I’ve worked on a few new pieces of writing and musicals recently, which are always exciting as they’re developing in front of you, so there is so much space to experiment. I think that’s an area I’d like to work in further.

What advice would you give to future students considering the BA Production Arts (Theatre Technology) course?

Try and grasp every opportunity you can. There are so many opportunities within Guildhall and outside to create connections and gain experience. Everyone I’ve come across has been so supportive and wants to help students, so I’d say always look for opportunities to connect with people in the industry, especially given how many Guildhall grads are out there!