About John Bishop
International Lighting Designer for opera, ballet, musicals & theatre
An International career in Lighting Design
I am an award-winning international theatre lighting designer, working across opera, ballet, musicals and drama.
Since beginning my freelance career in 1988, I have created original lighting designs for more than 250 productions, collaborating with leading opera companies, theatres and creative teams throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the USA and beyond.
Training and early career
After gaining practical experience in local theatres, I trained in scenic, costume and lighting design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. During my studies, I received the Fred Adams Award for Outstanding Contribution and Achievement in Drama and the 1982 Amoco Bursary to Welsh National Opera.
I then joined Welsh National Opera as an Assistant Electrician, quickly progressing to Deputy Chief Electrician and later Chief Electrician for national tours including The Threepenny Opera, Così fan tutte, The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro.
Selected career highlights
My work includes acclaimed productions for companies and theatres across Europe, including The Great Gatsby for Semperoper Dresden; Notorious for Göteborg Opera; Hänsel und Gretel for Oper Frankfurt; Tannhäuser and Le Roi Arthus for Opéra national du Rhin; The Marriage of Figaro for the National Opera of Poland; and Ernani for English National Opera.
I have also designed extensively for Opera North, Den Norske Opera, Opera Zuid, Welsh National Opera and Buxton Festival, as well as productions in São Paulo, Madrid and Athens. The Past Shows archive page provides a growing record of this work.
Beyond theatre
I was trained by Vari*Lite Europe in the use and operation of automated lighting equipment, touring Europe with Eric Clapton, Tina Turner and Toto. I also worked on recordings of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra.
My wider technical and production work has included the design and costing of the first ever Cardiff Summer Festival 1990 and, through my production company Totalshow, the supply of complete technical services for the festival.
Professional memberships
I am a Professional Member of the Association of Lighting Designers and the Society of British Theatre Designers.
Planning a production?
For lighting design enquiries and availability, please get in touch.