Ryan Joseph Stafford
Selected credits
- TRAPLORDIvan Michael Blackstock/ Southbank Centre
- BaconEdinburgh/ UK Tour
- ISLATheatre Clwyd/Royal Court
- Natalia Osipova: Force of Nature Bloom Dance Project/ World Tour
- Red Riding Hood: Rock 'n' Roll PantomimeLiverpool Everyman & Playhouse
- Left from WriteNorwegian National Ballet/Linbury ROH/European Tour
- VORTEXRussell Maliphant Dance Company
About
Ryan works across the UK and Europe as a Lighting Designer for theatre, musicals and dance. In 2019 he received the ‘Michael Northern Award for Excellence in Lighting Design’ from the Association of Lighting Designers. He trained at Rose Bruford College.
Recent designs include: TRAPLORD (Ivan Michael Blackstock/ Southbank Centre), Bacon ( Edinburgh Fringe 2023/ Riverside Studios/Finborough), Breeding (King’s Head Theatre), Force of Nature (Natalia Osipova/ Bloom Dance Project/ World Tour), Red Riding Hood: Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse) Left from Write (Norwegian National Ballet II/Linbury ROH, European Tour); VORTEX (Russell Maliphant Dance Company); Wind of Heaven (Finborough); CODI (National Dance Company Wales); Grimeboy (Birmingham Rep); Cyrano de Bergerac (Watermill); Together, Not the Same (Sadler’s Wells); ISLA (Theatre Clwyd/Royal Court); Crave (The Other Room/RWCMD); Hauntings & Pork Pies (Theatre Clwyd/National Trust); Pippin (UWTSD, Cardiff); The Island (Fio/UK Tour); Cardiff Boy (Red Oak Theatre/The Other Room); The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives (Elufowoju, Jr. Ensemble/Arcola Theatre).
Featured work
BACON
Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023/ Riverside Studios/ Finborough Theatre
Written by Sophie Swithinbank
Directed by Matthew Iliffe
Set and Costume Design by Natalie Johnson
Lighting Design by Ryan Joseph Stafford
WINNER OF 3 OFF WEST END AWARDS
‘Ryan Joseph Stafford’s Offie-nominated lighting design is elegant, efficient and atmospheric’
★★★★ West End Best Friend
★★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★★ Theatre Weekly
Breeding
King's Head Theatre
Author: Barry Mcstay
Producer: Gabriella Sills Productions
Associate Producer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Matthew Iliffe
Set & Costume Designer: Ceci Calf
Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Designer: Julian Starr
★★★★ Theatre Weekly
★★★★ All That Dazzles
Young Associates Artists: To Start With
Sadlers Wells
Choreography and Direction: Vidya Patel
Set Designer: Shankho Chaudhuri
Costume Designer: Manuela Fleming
Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
Under the artistic guidance of Ben Duke (Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Lost Dog) the young choreographers will be creating an ambitious evening of new works: To Start With.
The Young Associates are collaborating with a team of young creatives from a range of art-forms, giving a platform to a new generation of artistic voices.
Left From Write
Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
Norwegian National Ballet II
Choreographer: Charlotte Edmonds
Music: Katya Richardson
Animation: Sam Gainsborough
Photo: Jorg Weisner
Left From Write was created on Norwegian National Ballet Ung and is a physical exploration of my experience with dyslexia. This work explores literacy, orientation and miscommunication from the viewpoint of someone with dyslexia.
Grimeboy
Birmingham Rep
by Casey Bailey
Directed by Madeleine Kludje
Designed by Ebrahim Nazier
Lighting Design by Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Design by Clive Meldrum
“very striking lighting…” The Guardian
GrimeBoy tells the story of a inner city teenage who is desperate to be the greatest grime mc, with one eye on the impact of environment on aspirations. If Kano grew up in the Cotswolds and went to Oxford University, would he be the Prime Minister now? GrimeBoy was commissioned by the Birmingham Rep.
ISLA
Theatre Clwyd/Royal Court
Performed by Mark Lambert, Lisa Zahra & Catrin Aaron
Directed by Tamara Harvey
Designed by Camille Clarke
Lighting Design by Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound Design by Beth Duke
★★★★★ WhatsOnStage
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
By Lola Shoneyin
Arcola Theatre
Elufowoju, Jr Ensemble
Director: Femi Elufowoju, Jr
Designer: Ultz
Photo: Idil Sukan
‘The staging is stripped back yet inventive, with the lighting and choreography creating their own visual poetry’. ★★★★★ The Guardian
‘… the work is stunningly fluid, maintaining seamless continuity via the use of lighting during scene and dress changes.’ The Up Coming
Together, Not The Same
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Artistic Director : Hetain Patel
Photo: Helen Murray
VESSELS OF AFFLICTION
Created by Anthony Matsena
Music: Lara Agar
Costume Design: Sanja Umesh
Cardiff Boy
Red Oak Theatre / The Other Room
Director: Matthew Holmquist
Design: April Dalton
Sound Design: Joshua Bowles
Photo: Kirsten McTernan
“‘..while Ryan Joseph Stafford’s lighting hints at an ethereal outside world brimming with opportunity.’
The Stage
‘[Ryan Joseph Stafford’s] lighting design is also excellent, with the use of colour, projection and silhouette creating visually stunning moments.’
Whiplash Review
