Large Scale work. Theatre Design.

David trained in technical theatre arts at Rose Bruford College, specialising in prop making, scenic art and design. He then completed a post graduate course in theatre design at Motley, under the direction of Margaret (Percy) Harris, when it was based at the Almeida Theatre, London.

While in London he worked for many theatres as a freelance designer, scenic artist or set builder, these included several productions at The Theatre Royal Stratford East, Two productions at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, also shows at The National Theatre, The Old Vic, I.C.A. The Albany Empire, Paris Opera House and several touring productions.

He moved to Salisbury for his first full time job as head of Design and paint shop at Salisbury Playhouse. Here he designed productions for both the main house and studio theatres, as well as working with many freelance designers, including John Elvery, Kit Surrey, and Isabella Bywater, as scenic artist. At times leading a team of up to four scenic artists. After three years in Salisbury, David moved to the Colchester Mercury Theatre where he performed a similar role as Designer and Scenic Artist.

David always had a keen interest in small scale touring theatre, and his next move took him to Forest Forge Theatre Co. where he became resident designer and Associate Director. In the years he was with Forest Forge, he designed over 60 productions, many toured the UK to small or mid-scale venues, there were also site-specific and immersive productions, youth theatre productions and community events. New writing, and devised theatre mixed with classics, all given the small cast, multi-role playing treatment. There was even a strand of productions that performed to a single audience member sitting inside a large box! The theatre the company produced always had ambition that way outstripped its resources, it was audience focused with a heart, sense of humour, and attention to detail. It's loyal audiences would book tickets months in advance without even knowing what show they would be seeing, secure in the knowledge that they would have a damned good night!

David reluctantly left the Forge and became a freelancer again a few years ago as he moved north, to Manchester. This was a bit different to the New Forest! But he managed to find theatre people and companies that shared his approach to theatre making. He worked for several theatres, including Home, The Royal Exchange, Oldham Coliseum, Hope Mill, and The Edge Theatre.

When Covid ripped the heart out of the Theatre Industry, David found himself working in new ways, He had long been a writer, writing many plays, during lockdown he wrote his first novel, plus several scripts for online productions. He also found new ways to express himself through painting. With his wife, Jenny, he moved to Wales and set up a studio in the basement of their house, here he produces artwork for himself as well as scenery for productions, while Jenny has her own studio where she creates amazing things out of fabric!

On this page are some photos of David's larger scale artwork from many happy years of working in the theatre industry..