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James Farncombe

awards and nominations

 

Nominated Golden Mask Award for Best Lighting Designer - Opera for Alcina at Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
Nominated Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Light for a Play for The Tempest at St Ann's Warehouse
Nominated Olivier Award 2016 for People, Places and Things at the Dorfman, National Theatre.
Winner, Whatsonstage Whitelight Best Lighting Award 2011 for Ghost Stories at the Duke of York’s Theatre, West End.
Nominated Knights of Illumination 2012 for The Duchess of Malfi at the Old Vic.
Nominated TMA Best Lighting Design 2010 for Ghost Stories at Lyric Hammersmith.
Nominated TMA Best Lighting Design 2009 for Private Fears in Public Places, Northampton Theatre Royal.
Nominated Knights of Illumination 2007 for tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! at the Bush Theatre.

Productions

2024

INNOCENCE

Director: Simon Stone
San Francisco Opera

PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE Director: Susanna Malkki and Katie Mitchell
Aix-en-Provence
 

2023

THE NUTCRACKER Director: Kaloyan Boyadjiev
Norway National Ballet
 
MEFISTOFELE

Director: Simon Stone
Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma

VANYA Director: Sam Yates
Richmond Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre
 
JENŮFA

Director: Claus Guth
Lyric Opera Chicago

INNOCENCE

Director: Simon Stone
Royal Opera House

BLUE

Director: Tinuke Craig
English National Opera

TRISTAN & ISOLDE

Director: Simon Stone
Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

JENUFA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Palau de les Arts, Valencia

CARMEN

Director: John Fulljames
Scottish Opera

PHAEDRA

Director: Simon Stone
National Theatre

DIE TOTE STADT

Director: Annilese Miskimmon
English National Opera

2022

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Director Simon Stone
LA Opera

JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Bridge Theatre

INNOCENCE

Director: Simon Stone
Finnish National Opera and Ballet

THE BLUE WOMAN

Director: Katie Mitchell
Royal Opera House/Snape Maltings Concert Hall

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Director: Simon Stone
MET Opera

TRAUERNACHT

Director: Katie Mitchell
Opéra National de Lyon

L'ORFEO

Director: Tom Morris
Wiener Staatsoper

WOZZECK

Director: Simon Stone
Wiener Staatsoper

THEODORA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Royal Opera House

2021

JENUFA

Director: Claus Guth
Royal Opera House

DER ZWERG

Director: Nanouk Leopold
Dutch National Opera

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

Director: Simon Stone
Aix en Provence 

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS/MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL

Director: Isabelle Kettle
Royal Opera House

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN'S STAGE DREAMS

Director: Joseph Alford
Royal Danish Theatre
LA TRAVIATA

Director: Simon Stone
Vienna Staatsoper

INNOCENCE

Director: Simon Stone 
Aix En Provence

2020

COPENHAGEN

Director: Polly Findlay
Theatre Royal Bath

YERMA

Director: Simon Stone
Schaubühne Berlin

OP HOOP VAN ZEGEN

Director: Simon Stone
International Theatre Amsterdam

STREET SCENE

Director: John Fulljames
Opera Monte Carlo

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Bavarian State Opera Munich

CARMEN

Choreographer: Liam Scarlett
Finnish National Opera and Ballet

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS

Director: Katie Mitchell
Finnish National Opera

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS

Director: Katie Mitchell
Royal Danish Opera

INNOCENCE

Director: Simon Stone
Dutch National Opera

 

2019

ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Hamburg Schauspielhaus

GHOST STORIES

Director: Sean Holmes
Lyric Hammersmith, West End and Tour

LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Hamburg State Opera

STREET SCENE

Director: John Fulljames
Oper Köln

LA TRILOGIE DE LA VENGEANCE

Director: Simon Stone

Odeon - Théâtre de l'Europe

ZAUBERLAND

Director: Katie Mitchell
Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord

LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Opera Lyon

LA TRAVIATA

Director: Simon Stone
Paris Opera

WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENTLY TORTURED EACH OTHER

Director: Katie Mitchell
National Theatre, Dorfman

2018

THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND

Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons
Almeida
THE NUTCRACKER

Choreographer: Kaloyan Boyadjev
Norwegian National Ballet

JENUFA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Nationale Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS

Director: Katie Mitchell
Aix En Provence

YERMA

Director: Simon Stone
Young Vic/Park Avenue Armory, NY

MACBETH Director: Rufus Norris
National Theatre
 
LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Royal Opera House & Nationale Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam

STREET SCENE

Director: John Fulljames
Teatro Real, Madrid

2017

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Director: Jeremy Herrin
UK Tour

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Director: Jeremy Herrin
St Ann's Warheouse, NY

FRANCESCA DA RIMINI / RICCARDO ZANDONAI

Director: Nicola Raab
Opera National Du Rhin

ALCINA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Bolshoi Theatre of Russia

MIRANDA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Opera Comique

UIT HET LEVEN VAN MARIONETTEN

Director: Nanouk Leopold
Toneelgroep Amsterdam

YERMA

Director: Simon Stone
Young Vic

IBSEN HUIS

Director: Simon Stone
Toneelgroep, Amsterdam

ANATOMY OF SUICIDE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Royal Court

TWELFTH NIGHT

Director: Simon Godwin
The National Theatre

PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE

Director: Simon Stone
Den Norske Opera

THE TEMPEST

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
St. Ann's Warehouse, New York

 

2016

DE MEIDEN

Director: Katie Mitchell
Toneel Grouep Amsterdam

THE DRESSER

Director: Sean Foley
Richmond Theatre & Duke of York’s Theatre

THE TRILOGY

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Donmar Productions

THE NUTCRACKER

Choreographer: Kaloyan Boyadjev
Norwegian National Ballet

YERMA

Director: Simon Stone
Young Vic

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Director: Annabel Arden
Glyndebourne

PELLÉAS ET MELISÁNDE

Director: Katie Mitchell
Aix-en-Provence International Festival

BUGSY MALONE

Director: Sean Holmes
Lyric Hammersmith

LIFE

Ballet Boyz
Sadler’s Wells & UK Tour

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Director: Jeremy Herrin
Wyndham’s Theatre

BENJAMIN DERRIÈRE NUIT

Director: John Fulljames
Opera de Lyon

ARIODANTE

Director: Henry Fehr
Scottish Opera

 

2015

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Director: Jeremy Herrin
National Theatre

BUGSY MALONE

Director: Sean Holmes
Lyric Hammersmith

MAN AND SUPERMAN

Director: Simon Godwin
National Theatre

CARMEN

Choreographer: Liam Scarlett
Norwegian National Ballet

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

Director: Jo Davies
Opera North

ALCINA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Aix-en-Provence International Festival

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons
Young Vic

HENRY IV

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Donmar Warehouse and St. Ann’s Warehouse

HAPGOOD

Director: Howard Davies
Hampstead Theatre

THE MODERATE SOPRANO

Director: Jeremy Herrin
Hampstead Theatre

 

2014

THE WAY BACK HOME

Director: Katie Mitchell
ENO/Young Vic

THREE WINTERS

Director: Howard Davies
Lyttleton, National Theatre

THE WHITE DEVIL

Director: Maria Aberg
Swan, RSC

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

Director: Katie Mitchell
Young Vic

FATHER AND SONS

Director: Lyndsey Turner
Donmar Warehouse

NOT, FOOTFALLS, ROCKABY

Director: Walter Asmus
Royal Court

TRANSLATIONS

Director: James Grieve
Sheffield Crucible/ETT Tour

RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN

Director: Peter Dubois
Hampstead Theatre

TRAUERNACHT

Director: Katie Mitchell
Aix-en-Provence International Festival

 

2013

JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN PERFECT NONSENSE

Director: Sean Foley
Richmond Theatre, Duke of York’s and UK Tour

EDWARD II

Director: Joe Hill Gibbons
Olivier, National Theatre

AS YOU LIKE IT

Director: Maria Aberg
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RSC

A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS

Director: Sean Foley
Swan, RSC

AND THE REST WILL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU FROM CINEMA

Director: Katie Mitchell
Hamburg Schauspielhaus

LONGING

Director: Nina Raine
Hampstead Theatre

THE HOUSE TAKEN OVER

Director: Katie Mitchell
Aix-en-Provence International Festival

LE VIN HERBÉ

Director: Katie Mitchell
Berlin Staaastsoper

FIREBIRD

Liam Scarlett
Norwegian National Ballet

DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER

Director: Harry Fehr
Scottish Opera

 

previous theatre

THE LADYKILLERS

Director: Sean Foley
Liverpool Playhouse, Gielgud Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre and UK Tour

PEOPLE

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Littleton, National Theatre

THE MAGISTRATE

Director: Timothy Sheader
Olivier, National Theatre & tour

LONDON ROAD

Director: Rufus Norris
Cottesloe and Olivier, National Theatre

JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK

Howard Davies
Littleton, National Theatre and Abbey Theatre

MEN SHOULD WEEP

Director: Josie Rourke
Littleton, National Theatre

DOUBLE FEATURE

Director: Lyndsey Turner and Polly Findlay
Paintframe, National Theatre

THREE SISTERS

Director: Benedict Andrews
Young Vic

THE CHANGELING

Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons
Young Vic

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons
Young Vic

GHOST STORIES

Director: Jeremy Dyson, Sean Holmes and Andy Nyman
Lyric Hammersmith and Duke of York’s

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS

Director: Sean Holmes
Lyric Hammersmith

THE OVERCOAT

Director: Amit Lahav
Lyric Hammersmith

TWISTED TALES

Director: Polly Findlay
Lyric Hammersmith

THE RECRUITING OFFICER

Director: Josie Rourke
Donmar Warehouse

INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE

Director: Jamie Lloyd
Donmar Warehouse

THE DUCHESS OF MALFI

Director: Jamie Lloyd
Old Vic

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Director: James Grieve
Royal Court

THE VILLAGE BIKE

Director: Joe-Hill Gibbons
Royal Court

WANDERLUST

Director: Simon Godwin
Royal Court

WHAT’S IN THE CAT?

Director: Paulette Randell
Royal Court

BLEST BE THE TIE

Director: Paulette Randell
Royal Court

PLENTY

Director: Thea Sharrock
Sheffield Crucible

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS

Director: Tom Morris
Bristol Old, West End and UK Tour

JULIET AND HER ROMEO

Director: Tom Morris
Bristol Old Vic

ADOLF HITLER: MY PART IN HIS DOWNFALL

Director: Tim Carroll
Bristol Old Vic, Hampstead, Rho Delta and UK Tour

LIKE A FISHBONE

Director: Josie Rourke
Bush Theatre

THE WHISKEYTASTER

Director: Josie Rourke
Bush Theatre

2000 FEET AWAY

Director: Josie Rourke
Bush Theatre

TINDERBOX

Director: Josie Rourke
Bush Theatre

THE DYSFUNCKSHONALZ!

Director: Tamara Harvey
Bush Theatre

CROOKED

Director: Mike Bradwell
Bush Theatre

I LIKE MINE WITH A KISS

Director: Mike Bradwell
Bush Theatre

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Director: Matthew Dunster
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

RAGTIME

Director: Timothy Sheader
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

LORD OF THE FLIES

Director: Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

DANCING AT LUGHNASA

Director: Tamara Harvey
Birmingham Rep

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Director: Peter Rowe
Birmingham Rep

FORWARD

Director: Natalie Wilson
Birmingham Rep

THREE SISTERS

Director: Paulette Randall
Birmingham Rep

TAKING CARE OF BABY

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

OSAMA THE HERO

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

A SINGLE ACT

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

NATHAN WISE

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

BLONDE BOMBSHELLS OF 1943

Director: Mark Babych
Hampstead, Bolton Octagon and UK Tour

THE LITTLE PRINCE

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

LIFE AFTER SCANDAL

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

THE MATHS TUTOR

Director: Anthony Clark
Hampstead

BREAKING THE SILENCE

Director: Esther Richardson

BEAUTIFUL THING

Nottingham Playhouse

BEAST ON THE MOON

Nottingham Playhouse

TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN

Nottingham Playhouse

I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE

Nottingham Playhouse

A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG

Nottingham Playhouse

A WINTER’S TALE

UK Tour

BEDROOM FARCE

West Yorkshire Playhouse

VINCENT IN BRIXTON

Ipswich New Wolsey

CHIMPS

Ipswich New Wolsey

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

Ipswich New Wolsey

BLUES IN THE NIGHT

Ipswich New Wolsey

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Ipswich New Wolsey

IMPROBABLE FICTION

Stephen Joseph Theatre

TOUCH WOOD

Stephen Joseph Theatre

SOAP

Stephen Joseph Theatre

MAKING WAVES

Stephen Joseph Theatre

BE MY BABY

New Vic

EAST IS EAST

New Vic

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE

New Vic

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Bolton Octagon

ALL MY SONS

Bolton Octagon

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW

Bolton Octagon

AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST

Bolton Octagon

THE TWITS

Bolton Octagon

GHOSTS

Bolton Octagon

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC

Bolton Octagon

THE PRICE

Manchester Library Theatre

SPEED THE PLOUGH

Manchester Library Theatre

LARKIN WITH WOMEN

Manchester Library Theatre

A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG

Manchester Library Theatre

PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC SPACES

Manchester Library Theatre

AMY’S VIEW

Manchester Library Theatre

DEAD FUNNY

Manchester Library Theatre

THIS LIME TREE BOWER

Coventry Belgrade

THE GREAT GAME

Tricycle Theatre

BLUES FOR MR CHARLIE

Tricycle Theatre

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN INDIES

Tricycle Theatre

THE NOT BLACK AND WHITE SEASON

Tricycle Theatre

JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES

Northampton Theatre Royal

MAN OF THE MOMENT

Northampton Theatre Royal

PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC SPACES

Northampton Theatre Royal

AMY’S VIEW

Northampton Theatre Royal

DEAD FUNNY

York Theatre Royal

ABIGAIL’S PARTY

York Theatre Royal

LORD OF THE FLIES

Pilot Theatre

SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS

Pilot Theatre

ROAD

Pilot Theatre

FUNGUS THE BOGEYMAN

Pilot Theatre

LOOKING FOR JJ

Pilot Theatre

UNSUITABLE GIRLS

Pilot Theatre

WE THAT ARE LEFT

Pilot Theatre

ABSENT FRIENDS

Pilot Theatre

HYSTERIA

Pilot Theatre

KOMMILITONEN

Royal Academy of Music and Julliard School

MIGNON

Guildhall

OLEANNA

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

KRAPP’S LAST TAPE

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

A DIFFERENT WAY HOME

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

A VISIT FROM MRS PROTHERO

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

THE KISS

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

SMILE

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

A WHO’S WHO OF FLAPLAND

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

BOMBER’S MOON

Lakeside Theatre Nottingham

THE ELEPHANT MAN

Worcester Swan

THE BLUE ROOM

Worcester Swan

PLAGUE OF INNOCENCE

Leicester Haymarket

MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS

Leicester Haymarket

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Leicester Haymarket

THE WITCHES

Leicester Haymarket

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

Leicester Haymarket

WEST SIDE STORY

Leicester Haymarket