John Rainsforth

Biography Credits Contact Details

Biography

John is a lighting designer and graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2011). With a career that spans over a decade, his work has been seen on stages across the UK and around the world, including Australia, China, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Thailand, and Norway

John’s diverse portfolio includes large-scale international productions such as Swan Lake on Ice (Bangkok), The Nutcracker on Ice (Italy), and Peter Pan on Ice (World Tour), as well as UK-based theatre, touring, and pantomime. His credits include Sleeping Beauty (Darlington Hippodrome), Cinderella: A Fairytale (Northern Stage), Speakeasy (UK Tour), Some Enchanted Evening (Barn Theatre & Tour), Brotherhood and Soapbox Racer (Alphabetti Theatre), and many popular pantomimes for The Customs House. UK Productions, Jordan Productions & Crossroads Pantomimes.

In addition to his professional design work, John is a visiting Lighting Designer and Mentor at the Guildford School of Acting, where he supports the development of emerging talent. His selected GSA designs include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Richard III, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Musical, and The Pirate Queen, among others.

He is a proud member of the Association for Lighting Production & Design and Equity, and remains committed to pushing creative boundaries through light and storytelling.

Awards & Nominations

*

Nominee, 2025 UK Pantomime Association Award for Best Lighting Design – Mother Goose, The Customs House

​​*

Nominee, 2023 BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Lighting Design – Shakespeare’s R&J, Reading Rep

More information about my personal or professional identity:
View my CV:

Specialisms

Theatre:
  • Touring relights
Musical:
  • West End
  • Commercial Tour
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Education Establishment
  • Touring relights
Opera:
  • Touring relights
Dance:
  • Touring relights
Concert:
Corporate:
  • Conferences
Architectural:
Non-professional:
  • Dance
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Projection / Video Design
Education:
  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Training

Previous productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative Team Opened
Sleeping Beauty Theatre Sunderland Empire
UK Productions 		Lighting Designer
Robin Hood Theatre Manchester Opera House
Crossroads 		Lighting Designer
Goldilocks and The Three Bears Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House 		Lighting Designer Director: Natasha Haws
Set designer: Mike Brown
Grease the Musical Theatre Dubai Opera, then touring
Dubai Opera 		Lighting Designer Director: Nigel West
Set designer: Mary Tsagkari
The Pajama Game Musical Yvonne Arnaud Guildford
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Ian Talbot
Set designer: Stewart Charlesworth
Snow White Theatre Fairfield Halls, Croydon
UK Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Sarah Redmond
Set designer: UK Productions
Sleeping Beauty Theatre Darlington Hippodrome
Crossroads 		Lighting Designer
Mother Goose Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting & Projection / Video Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Alfie Joey & Mike Brown
Cinderella on Ice Theatre Zabeel Theatre, Dubai, then touring
Imperial Ice stars 		Lighting Designer Director: Tony Mercer
Swan Lake on Ice Theatre Bangkok International Dance Festival, then touring
Imperial Ice stars 		Lighting Designer Director: Tony Mercer
Set designer: Eamon D'Arcy
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Theatre Guildford Yvonne Arnaud
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Nigel West
Set designer: Roger Ness
Little Red Ridding Hood Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting & Projection / Video Designer Director: Steven Lee Hamilton
Nutcracker on Ice Theatre Archiboldi Theater Milan, then touring
Imperial Ice stars 		Lighting Designer Director: Tony Mercer
Set designer: Eamon D'Arcy
Aladdin Theatre Fairfield Halls, Croydon
UK Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Sarah Redmond
Set designer: UK Productions
Cinderella: A Fairytayle Theatre Northern Stage
Northern Stage 		Lighting Designer Director: Jake Smith & Katy Weir
Set designer: Alison Ashton
Shakespears R & J Theatre Reading Rep
Reading Rep 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Stacey
Set designer: Anna Kelsey
The Bench Theatre The Customs House
Lighting Designer Director: Olivia Millar-Ross
Set designer: Lee Ward
Cinderella Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House 		Lighting & Projection / Video Designer Director: David Hopper
Chop, Dissolve, Burn Theatre Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Alphabetti Theatre & WANC 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul James
Set designer: Molly Barrett
Peter Pan On Ice Theatre Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, then touring
Imperial Ice stars 		Lighting Designer Director: Tony Mercer
Soapbox Racer Theatre Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lighting Designer Director: Rosie Bowden
Set designer: Ali Pritchard
Person Spec Theatre Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Forest Sound Theatre 		Lighting Designer Director: Alfie Heffer
Peter Pan On Ice Dance ICC Newport
Imperial Ice stars 		Lighting Designer Choreographer: Tony Mercer
Peter Pan - The Return of Captain Hook Theatre Fairfield Halls, Croydon
UK Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Sarah Redmond
Set designer: UK Productions
Robin Hood - Pantomime Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Alfie Joey & Mike Brown
Holliday Inn Theatre Bellairs Theatre
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Nigel West
Set designer: Amy Yardley
The Pirate Queen Theatre Bellairs Theatre
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Anna Fox
Set designer: Amy Yardley
Meggie Magicia Theatre Civic Theatre, Gosforth, then touring
Pen Gwyn Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Natasha Haws
Set designer: Lee Ward
The Wasp Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House 		Lighting Designer Director: Jake Smith
Set designer: Amy Watts
Brotherhood Dance Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Alphabetti Theatre, Northern Roots & Vitamin Noir 		Lighting & Projection / Video Designer
Amour Theatre Bellairs Theate
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: PHYLLIDA CROWLEY-SMITH
Set designer: Amy Yardley
Some Enchanted Evening Theatre Barn Theatre, Cirencester, then touring
Barn Theatre, Cirencester 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Milton
Set designer: Corin Hayes
Tree Theatre Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lighting Designer Director: Rachel Glover
Cinderella Theatre Rickmansworth Watersmeet
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Simon Jessop
Set designer: Julie Godfrey
Rapunzel Theatre The Customs House
Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Sami Fendall
Cinderella Theatre Bellairs Theate
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: PHYLLIDA CROWLEY-SMITH
Set designer: Jason Denvir
Curtains Theatre Bellairs Theate
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: Nigel West
Set designer: Jason Denvir
Our Laygate Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Mina Anwar
Set designer: John Rainsforth & Gareth Hunter
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Theatre Bellairs Theate
Guildford School of Acting 		Lighting Designer Director: Racky Plews
Set designer: P J McEvoy
Richard III Theatre Guildford School of Acting
Lighting Designer Director: Nicholas Scrivens
Set designer: Rodger Ness
Arbuthnot & Dame Bella's Christmas Adventure Theatre The Customs House
Lighting & Projection / Video Designer Lighting designer: John Rainsforth
Director: David Hopper
Set designer: Natasha Haws
Peter Pan Theatre Rickmansworth Watersmeet
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Michael Burgen
Cinderella Theatre Kettering Lighthouse Theatre
Jordan Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Paul Milton
Snow White Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Fox and Shriek
All About My Mother Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Hannah Bannister
Set designer: Elliott Squire
Love and Information Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Sean Linnen
Set designer: Elliott Squire
Cosmonaut’s Last Message Theatre GSA
GSA Conservatiore 		Lighting Designer Director: Nadia Papachronopoulou
Set designer: Elliott Squire
Dolly Mixtures The Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Mina Anwar
Set designer: David Wilkinson
Bobby Robson Saved My Life Theatre The Customs House, then touring
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Jamie Brown
Set designer: Gareth Hunter
Mack and Mabel Theatre The Mill Studio - Yvonne Arnaud
GSA 		Lighting Designer Director: Julian Woolford
Everywhere We Go Theatre The Customs House
Boyle Yer Stotts Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Dale Meeks
My Uncle Freddy Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Gareth Hunter
End of The Peir Theatre The Customs House
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Director: Neil Armstrong
Set designer: Gareth Hunter
Educating Rita Theatre Customs House
ION Productions 		Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Johnathan Rainsforth
Director: Neil Armstrong
Dolly Mixtures The Musical Theatre The Customs House
The Customs House Theatre Trust 		Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: David Wilkinson
Alice in Wonderland Theatre The Customs House
Lighting Designer Director: Ray Spencer
Set designer: Fox and Shriek
Contact method Details
Website

www.johnrainsforth.com
Agent name Richard Ireson - Narrow Road
Agent email richardireson@narrowroad.co.uk