The ALPD announces its Design Lumière Scheme 2022 with Glyndebourne

Photo Credit: © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Auditorium Fisheye (Leigh Simpson).

The Association for Lighting Production and Design (ALPD) has announced that the recruitment process for the Design Lumière Scheme 2022 has begun. This year the association is proud to be working in partnership with Glyndebourne, one of the world’s most celebrated opera houses. The aim of the ALPD’s exciting professional development scheme is to establish assistants who are employable by producers and lighting designers. The Lumière will gain first-hand experience as an assistant lighting designer with industry-recognised skills.

Charlotte Burton, ALPD’s Lumière Working Group Chair, commented, “It is a joy to be partnering with Glyndebourne for the Design Lumière Scheme in 2022. It will give the Lumière a unique experience to work in one of the world’s most renowned opera houses alongside the incredible in-house lighting team and this season’s wonderful lighting designers.

As a former Lumière, I know that work experience in a venue can help to develop skills before branching out to assist lighting designers on productions around the UK in the second stage. We cannot thank our generous supporters – those who donated to A Light Walk last year and Glyndebourne – enough for their continued support. They have made this year’s Design Lumière Scheme possible.”

The Design Lumière Scheme 2022 returns as a six-month programme of mentoring and practical experience. The successful applicant will spend the first stage of the programme at Glyndebourne, assisting visiting lighting designers within the lighting and AV department. The second stage of the scheme will match the Lumière with several lighting designers for three months where they will assist and travel with the LDs across the country.

Alongside the practical work-based experience, the Lumière receives a bespoke package of mentoring and support to establish a grounding for how to survive and thrive as a lighting designer. The knowledge and insight bestowed covers a range of scenarios from getting an agent and building a portfolio, through to navigating challenging situations.

Glyndebourne’s head of lighting and AV, Vic Pyne, confirmed that whilst the learning curve will be steep… “Glyndebourne is delighted to be working in conjunction with the ALPD to offer this great opportunity that will be beneficial to all of us. Producing repertory opera is a whole other world of wonderful and to be able to offer this scheme at Glyndebourne is a tremendous privilege.”

The ALPD Application pack for this year’s Design Lumière Scheme is available here.

The ALPD is looking for applicants already working within the theatre industry who would relish the challenge of working alongside professionals at the highest level. Closing Date for applications is 6 pm on Sunday 10th April 2022.

Last year the ALPD ran an online pilot Production Lumière Scheme for lighting production professionals, in which five emerging lighting practitioners were chosen from applications and each paired with a professional mentor. Covering a wide spectrum of work, the Lumières participated in a series of workshops, discussions, and masterclasses.

The pilot scheme enabled direct access to a production electrician or programmer and the scheme inspired conversations about the role, the craft and the life. The learnings from this exciting opportunity for Lumières are currently being developed to provide a six-month Production Lumière scheme that will, in time, run hand in hand with the Design Lumière Scheme.