top of page

Introduction

I am a theatre technician and lighting designer based in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Across the last 5 years I have worked in venues of all sizes across the country, both on in house and touring productions.

I love experimentation both with my designs and with new hardware and software. 

I am highly proficient with ETC EOS boards and have substantial experience of QLab programming and live sound mixing.

Current Work

Gwyneth Goes Skiing | Lighting Designer | Pleasance/Awkward Productions

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story | Lighting Designer | Awkward Production

Ascension | Lighting Designer | Dan Hazelwood

Previous Work

Arcadia | Lighting Designer | People's Theatre

Iris | Lighting Designer | People's Theatre

Goblin Market | Lighting Designer | Nottingham New Theatre

Insomnia | Lighting Designer | Nottingham New Theatre

It's Not Rocket Science | Lighting Designer | Letter for Letter Theatre

Jekyll and Hyde and Hilda and Martin | Lighting Designer | Nottingham New Theatre

Identical | Assistant Stage Manager | Nottingham Playhouse

Choose Your Fighter | Relighter | Votive Theatre

Hamlet | Lighting Designer | Nottingham New Theatre

Initiation | Lighting/Sound Designer | Letter for Letter Theatre

Peter Pan | Sound Designer/Lighting Collaborator | Nottingham New Theatre

Optimistic: Elizabeth Holmes | Lighting Designer | Sarah Deller (Edinburgh Fringe)

Trainspotting Live | Production LX | Seabright Productions

Outlawed: Christmas Cabaret | Lighting Designer | Nonsuch Studios

Pak it In | Lighting Designer | Adam Lqbal

Julius Caesar | Associate Lighting Designer | Icarus Theatre

Hold On To Your Butts | Relighter | Recent Cutbacks

How to Kill A Chicken | Lighting Designer | Gigi Tisminetzky

Duck | Relighter | Two Magpies/Pleasance

Ugly Sisters | Relighter | Piss/Carnation

​

Technical Manager | Nottingham New Theatre

Technical Lead | Nonsuch Studios

​

Testimonials

'Divine and Inspired' - Audience Member (Hamlet)

​

'An Outrageous Triumph' - Edgar Wright (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story)

​

'Incredible atmospheric lighting' - Impact Magazine (Goblin Market)

 

'James is a gem and really helped us to bring the show to life at Nonsuch' - Van Huynh Company (In Realness)

 

'James’ design and artistic vision coupled with his technical ability have been invaluable to us as a company. He’s also an absolute treat to work with, which is why we keep employing him!' - Joseph Martin (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story)

​

 'The sound and lighting, which added so much to the performance, deserve a round of applause. There were some truly talented people behind the scenes of this production' - Impact Magazine (Jekyll and Hyde and Hilda and Martin)

 

'A special kind of magic' - Impact Magazine (Peter Pan)

 

'James was a privilege to work with on our live music nights. Initially James was brought in as cover for a tech team of 5/6 people, and in the he ended up performing just as well if not better than that group of 5/6 himself' - Joe Paternoster (Mooch Live)

​​

'With lighting designed by James Appleby, emotional moments like Gwyneth bravely telling the court she lost half a day of skiing really hit the audience hard' - ILoveMCR (Gwyneth Goes Skiing)

bottom of page