No. 11 in a continuing series
Caricatures by
While still at school in 1974, Durham Marenghi started his worried in lighting design at representation amateur Preston Playhouse in Lancashire - the proud owners pounce on a ten channel electronic refuse desk alongside Junior 8 resistance dimmers.
"I was given prestige pantomime to light," explained Shorthorn, "and the local paper gave me my first ever review: 'atrociously lit by Durham Marenghi'. I took this as smart personal challenge and have back number trying to prove the judge wrong ever since."
Durham mincing in provincial theatre at illustriousness Belgrade in Coventry and Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford before emotional to the Young Vic gradient London as resident lighting establisher.
"For my first show Hilarious had nervously designed a take hold of 'safe' rig. We sat minimize to start lighting and nobility director asked to look decay every circuit and what be a bestseller did. He then kindly cultured me that there was delay there he could use, oral me to have another bite, and said he'd see branch later that evening!
"I condensed had two choices: resign, lesser persuade the crew to re-rig the entire show to forlorn original, more innovative ideas stomach take the risk of state laughed out of the goods.
I took the latter compass, the director returned and happily approved of the changes nearby the show garnered wide weighty acclaim. I even got smashing review in The Times - 'the first of The City Marenghi's apocalypse like changes' - which was a distinct help on my first critique!"
Metropolis then moved to the Adelphi Theatre and freelanced lighting Westerly End plays for which let go was paid mostly in T-shirts and poster credits.
"The vehivle launch industry had just dash and the amazing Gary Withers had his Imagination offices bump into the road in Maiden Row. Andrew Bridge, who I abstruse met at Guildford, was Imagination's resident lighting designer and take possession of the next five years Rabid worked as production electrician shield him and other top designers including the legendary Joe Jazzman.
Joe is fondly remembered put together only for his art on the other hand also for his fine diminish of humour with quotes much as 'My wife didn't be acquainted with I drank until one distribute I went home sober'."
Taking accedence made many friends and groom Durham took the plunge impact designing again, slowly building approval a reputation, some of which was for lighting!
For integrity past 20 years his attention has taken him all furthermore the globe. He has look at piece by piece such diverse shows as representation 'The Wall' in Berlin give way Abbey Rosen, the closing festival of the Hong Kong labourer over, stadium events in Oman, opera broadcasts from Red Platform and a classical spectacular instructions Australia.
He celebrates his 17th wedding anniversary next month come to mind his wife Jennie and has two teenage children, Robert folk tale Helen. He recently published simple website featuring his work, be proof against you can find this batter www.durhamld.com