CATALYST | Assistant Lighting Designer - The King's Ransom
Application Deadline: 5 October 2026
Department: Catalyst
Employment Type: Freelance
Location: Donmar Warehouse Office
Reporting To: Lighting Designer; Head of Inclusion and Skills
Compensation: £135 / day
Description
Mission:
Creating equitable access to the industry is a core Donmar value. CATALYST is a professional development programme for those who have been historically underrepresented at the Donmar and within the sector. We are interested in supporting artists who identify as being a part of the global majority, trans, non-binary, D/deaf or disabled, neurodivergent or from a lower socio-economic background. The programme provides key professional development for these artists to catapult their careers to the next level, preparing them to thrive and lead in the theatre sector.
About the role:
As a part of the Donmar’s CATALYST professional development training programme, the role is an opportunity for outstanding, early-career artists to receive bespoke training, both practical and observational, by assisting the Lighting Designer to realise the lighting design for a Donmar production. The goal is to gain insight into a high-level production process while developing and strengthening your skills and artistic voice.
Terms and dates:
- Application Deadline: Monday 5 October 2026, 10am
- Interviews: 15 October 2026 (Online), please save this date
- Onboarding: w/c 19 October 2026
- Rehearsals commence: 26 October 2026
- Fit Up/Tech Week: 30 November - 4 December 2026
- Previews: 5 December - 15 December 2026
- Press Night: 16 December 2026
Experience you will gain and what you can expect
- You will get practical experience as an assistant Lighting Designer so will be required to serve as a proactive and positive member of the team
- You will join meetings with the Lighting Designer and in-house Lighting team gaining insight into the design process, liaising, note taking and other ad hoc tasks as part of this process
- Assist with drawing of lighting plans
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings
- Assist with rigging, focusing, and plotting
- Be present at fit up, technical rehearsals and previews
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience as lead Lighting Designer on at least 4 fringe level productions (Higher Education Productions whilst in training not included)
- Experience of working with professional creative teams
- Experience of working with professional technical and stage management teams
- Able to demonstrate and articulate a clear artistic vision and reason for pursuing the opportunity and why this is a crucial next step for their creative practice and career
- At least one element of your identity or an intersection of identities that is currently underrepresented in creative roles in the theatre industry (Global majority, trans, non-binary, D/deaf or disabled, neurodivergent or from a lower socio-economic background).
What you will receive
- Access to mentorship from a leading practitioner in the development of a large scale, ambitious production
- Mentoring support from the Head of Inclusion and Skills
- Company-wide investment in your professional development where we encourage you to connect with the wider Donmar community as much as possible to gain insight into the sector at large
- A 1-hour mentoring session with a leading theatre maker post-contract
- Access to a vibrant and active Donmar trainee alumni community of emerging directors and designers which includes post-contract invites to networking mixers and Donmar productions, ongoing coaching and mentorship as needed, as well as other learning and professional development opportunities from our sector partners and beyond
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