Ken Binley's guest today is Lighting Designer Andrew Leonard. He joins us to talk about his 45 years experience in the entertainment industry, living in the moment and the need for collaboration in these pandemic times.

Bio: Born in Dublin in 1953, Andrew Leonard grew up in the leafy suburbs in Killiney Co. Dublin.

Educated first by nun’s with men’s names in black habits, Andrew then went to St. Conleth’s in Ballsbridge, followed by Ampleforth, a Public School in Yorkshire run by Benedictine monks in skirts / habits!

He went to Trinity in Dublin to study Business Studies, but got diverted into theatre by an old school friend and he discovered his vocation for lighting and theatre there and spent most of his time in the Players’ Theatre.

Just before he left Trinity, he saw an ad for Lighting operators in RTE, went for it and got the job, which he stuck at for 3 very valuable years.

He left to start Stage and Location Lighting with Rupert Murray in 1978, which then became Lighting Dimensions. It was the start of an era, the beginning of the indigenous business which has grown to dizzy heights today.

Andrew left the company in ’94 to become a freelance Lighting Director and contractor.

Andrew joins us to talk a little bit about keys moments, turns in the road, the coping with the stresses and strains of running a business, of relationships, and how he addressed those moments with the help of personal development work, therapy and mindfulness.

Here's a link to Oscailt a fantastic service referenced in the show: https://oscailt.com/practitioners/

Let's talI