Paula J. Dinkel, principal lighting designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, is currently leading the lighting design teams at Walt Disney Studios in Paris. Her paper ‘Theatre to Theme Parks’ owes much to her 20 years’ experience with Disney theme parks and retail projects, amongst them DisneyQuest in both Orlando and Chicago, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore and Club Disney.
John Rayment, the man responsible for the exciting lighting design of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, will discuss this experience in his paper ‘Olympics’. Beginning his career in seventies London, Rayment went on to become associated with the Sydney Dance Company, and was also one of Australia’s first lighting designers to go freelance and get an agent, allowing him the freedom to work on projects which have included drama, opera, musicals and events such as World Expo 88.
Peggy Eisenhauer, the only lighting designer to receive two double-nominations for lighting design, is talking about ‘Design Philosophy’. With partner Jules Fisher, she runs the successful Third Eye studio, a provider of innovative lighting design for some of America’s top shows, the most recent being the musical production of Jane Eyre which opened on Broadway in December. Her partnership with Fisher began some 15 years ago and they have gone on to collect many design awards, including five Tony nominations.
Other speakers over the three days include Tristram Oliver, director of photography on Aardman’s first feature film, Chicken Run; Ian Dow, a resource manager with BBCTV Outside Broadcasts, whose triumphs include lighting the 1999 Eclipse "without spoiling the effect," and Graham Festenstein, senior designer for Sutton Vane Associates, where his projects have included Wildscreen and Explore@Bristol. As well as the papers, there is also an exhibition of 40 companies and associations.
Registration is currently underway and over 100 delegates have already signed up to participate. If you would like a registration form telephone +44 (0)1323 418406 or e-mail sheila@plasa.org. A full programme can be found on the website.
Dates: May 21 to 23
Venue: Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
