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Behind the Lights: White Light in Conversation with Andrew Stuttard, Head of Lighting at The Old Vic about Oedipus

UK – Currently playing at The Old Vic in London, Oedipus is a contemporary adaptation of Sophocles' classic tragedy. Featuring a cast led by Rami Malek as Oedipus and Indira Varma as Jocasta, the production is co-directed by Hofesh Shechter and Matthew Warchus, in a new adaptation by Ella Hickson. This epic and revelatory version follows King Oedipus on his quest to save his people. He vows to succeed whatever the cost and so begins an unstoppable pursuit of the truth through a harrowing labyrinth of fear and love. The production has been met with critical acclaim and is nominated in three categories at this year’s Olivier Awards, including Best Actress, Best Sound Design and Best Theatre Choreographer. Featuring a lighting design by Tom Visser, White Light was approached by The Old Vic’s head of lighting Andrew Stuttard, to supply the lighting rig.

White Light and The Old Vic share a relationship spanning over 20 years, with WL supplying lighting equipment for the majority of the theatre’s productions. Andrew reflects on this collaboration: "We really value our relationship with White Light’s hire team. Having worked with Stuart Porter and Jedd Hamilton for many years, they understand our needs. The team is always accommodating, whether we need to adjust, swap or add more equipment during tech weeks. The speed of response from WL is invaluable; it means we can make creative changes quickly, ensuring that designers get exactly what they need.”

The Old Vic operates with a lean in-house lighting team, requiring a hands-on approach from its head of lighting. Andrew explains: "My role covers everything from ensuring productions run smoothly to supporting lighting designers and sourcing the right equipment for each show. I oversee all prep work and lead the fit-ups at the theatre, while also managing the team responsible for keeping the productions running night after night. As a team of three, we work closely together to make sure everything happens seamlessly. Occasionally, we also assist other departments with filming and special events, using our skillset to support the wider theatre."

Every Old Vic production brings fresh technical challenges, and Oedipus was no exception. The production required a versatile lighting design to seamlessly transition between contemporary dance sequences and dramatic theatre scenes. Andrew continues: "For this production, we had to blend different lighting styles to complement both the choreography and the play. We used a combination of traditional Source Fours and generics alongside newer fixtures like the Ayrton Perseo, which we hadn’t used before but proved to be incredibly reliable with a powerful output. We also incorporated Martin MAC Ones, allowing us to create a fresh and distinctive design. The production ran smoothly, but during the preview period, we had to adapt quickly to meet the creative team’s evolving needs. This is where our relationship with WL was invaluable; their understanding of our requirements meant we could source the right fixtures at the right time.”

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for The Old Vic’s lighting department and Andrew is actively working to improve energy efficiency within the venue.

"We’re currently analysing our power usage to make more sustainable choices. It’s not just about switching to LED but understanding the power consumption differences between generic and LED fixtures, including the standby power requirements of LED units. We’re gathering data to inform our future decisions. Beyond equipment, we’re also committed to reusing materials wherever possible and tracking our progress using the Green Theatre Book metrics. Sustainability is ingrained in our team’s mindset and we’re working to make meaningful changes wherever we can."

WL’s hire business development manager, Stuart Porter, highlights the strength of the ongoing partnership: "It’s fantastic to continue working with Andrew and his team at The Old Vic. Their productions are always diverse and creatively ambitious, often with tight prep and turnaround times. We’re proud to support them with high-quality equipment and a responsive service, ensuring they have everything they need to bring their designs to life. Our workshop team ensures that every piece of kit is prepped to the highest standard, so that the team can focus on bringing each show to life. Additionally, with sustainability at the forefront of our operations, we have earned key accreditations, including B Corp and ISO 14001, enabling us to align with The Old Vic’s sustainability commitments.”

With Oedipus running until the end of the month, all eyes are on the upcoming Olivier Awards. Best of luck to the entire team, WL can’t wait to see how many awards the production takes home!

photos: Manuel Harlan

12th March 2025

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