In 1996 I started my career as an assistant to lighting designer Bonnie Beecher working on Frida K, a vibrant and challenging play staring Allegra Fulton and directed by Peter Hinton.  I was struck by Bonnie's use of colour and the way that she embraced expressionism.  Since then, Bonnie has become a top tier designer in Canada and started in the past several years working in France and Germany on ballet and opera.  With over 250 productions under her belt she has a very interesting story to tell about Canadian theatre and how she works abroad.  Bonnie joined me at Soulpepper Theatre in May of 2015 to chat about her life and style.

University of British Columbia

John Lazarus

Banff Centre for the Arts

Adam Stewart

Chris Popowich

Neil Peter Jampolis 

Jane Reisman

Harry Frehner

Neptune Theatre (Halifax)

Tom Kerr

Richard Ouzounian

Brass Rubbings

Shaw Festival

Stratford Festival

Robert Thompson

Beth Kates

Andrea Lundy

Glen Davidson

Mirvish Theatre Productions

Frida K

Peter Hinton and Here

The Duchess of Malfi

Cabaret

Joe Ziegler

The Conjuror by David Ben

Dominique Dumais

FIDa festival

Desrosier Dance Theatre

Kevin O'Day

Mannheim National Theatre

Bridget Briner  and Ballett im Revier

Stuttgart Ballet

Dortman Ballet

Royal Flanders Ballet

Beleuchtungsmeister

InOne by Cory Pattak

Beverly Emmons (designer for Martha Graham Dance Company who speaks of face lighting in dance)

Sweet Charity

Morris Panych and Ken MacDonald

Cameron Davis

Charlotte Dean

Rosco I-cue

The Dybbuk

Opera Atelier

Gerard Gauci

Versailles Opera House

Bonnie Beecher.  Photo by David Cooper