After graduation, he followed a lifelong desire to work in lighting design for theatre.

After working for some time in repertory theatre, he became a founder member of Theatre Projects under the leadership of Richard Pilbrow. He was lighting designer for Glyndebourne from 1972 to 1986 where productions included the celebrated Rake’s Progress designed by David Hockney, and then for ROH from 1986 to 1994.

He has lit extensively in theatre, including work for the RNT, RSC, Manchester Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Chichester and has lit operas for all the major national and international opera companies.