We take pride in supporting the next generation of technical creatives through our Lighting Programme, and this year, we were thrilled to support Ed Frearson, a member of our 24/25 cohort, as he undertook his final graduate project at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Titled Behind The Iron, Ed’s project delved into the dynamics of collaboration between a musician and a designer in creating live performances. The result? A 40-minute immersive music show featuring Olly Rodwell on Silk Street Stage, with Ed leading the production’s lighting design and programming. Ed also partnered with fellow student Tom Shackleton, who managed the technical production and electrics for the ambitious design.

The unique dimensions of the Silk Street stage, a 16-meter-tall, expansive space provided an architectural canvas that Ed embraced. By extending the space with his lighting design, he created several towering light curtains that loomed over the audience and defined the performance area. To achieve this, Ed utilised GLP X4 Bar 20s, SGM Q-7 Strobes, and Ayrton Diablos; fixtures made available through our Lighting Programme.

Ed reflects on the impact of SLX’s support:

“After being kindly offered a place on the SLX Lighting Programme, I realised that we could really expand and grow the design with the complimentary hire that is included as part of the programme. Seeing that X4s were available, I spoke to Katy Lowe about adjusting the hire to include more X4 Bar 20s to achieve the light curtains I envisioned. These, alongside the punchy Q-7 Strobes and Diabolos, became a key part of the show. The dynamic truss, loaded with 10 X4 Bar 20s, gave us incredible scope for creating immersive, high-impact lighting moments.”

Supporting Ed in this project exemplifies our commitment to fostering creativity and technical innovation among our Lighting Programme students. By providing access to industry-leading fixtures, we empower students to push the boundaries of design, gaining invaluable experience for their future careers.

We were honoured to support Ed in this exceptional production and look forward to seeing where his journey in the industry takes him.

You can see the full final result here.

Learn more about our Lighting Programme here.