Kelli Zezulka

Biography Credits Contact Details

Biography

Kelli received a BA in theatre from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. She then went on to train at LAMDA, where she specialised in lighting. Kelli has also completed an MA by research degree from University of Leeds, which concerned the history of lighting design at the Royal Court Theatre. She is in the final year of a PhD at University of Leeds, where she is examining how lighting designers use language to exercise agency in creative collaboration.

Three days after graduating from LAMDA, Kelli started at the Royal Court as lighting board operator and was promoted to lighting assistant twelve months later. She left the Court after three and a half years for a brief stint with the RSC, and is now based in Leeds where, until September 2010, she worked as a production electrician at West Yorkshire Playhouse. She now designs for small- and mid-scale theatre and opera, mostly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Kelli is a dual UK/US citizen. 

Recent credits: Dorian (Proper Job Theatre), Medusa (Proper Job Theatre), assistant lighting designer (LD: Matt Haskins) for Opera North fairytale season (The Snow Maiden, Hansel & Gretel and La Cenerentola), Cinderella (Northern Opera Group), You Forgot the Mince (Imagine if Theatre Company), Revenger's Tragedy (Wellfangled Theatre), The Maids, Playhouse Creatures, Miss Julie, Playboy of the Western World (Hedgepig Theatre Company), Othello (York Shakespeare Project), Somebody's Son, Bag Lady (Hidden Gems Productions), 59 Minutes to Save Christmas (Slung Low), Amsterdam (currently on tour), which was nominated for Best Studio Production in the Manchester Theatre Awards.

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

Specialisms

Theatre:
  • Regional (Main House)
  • Regional (Studio)
  • Fringe / Pub Theatre
Musical:
Opera:
  • Large scale
  • Small scale
Dance:
Concert:
Corporate:
Architectural:
  • Commercial & Retail
Non-professional:
Education:
  • Lectures
  • Workshops
  • Training

Previous productions

Show name Type Venue/Company Role Creative Team Opened
The Trial Theatre Proper Job Theatre, then touring
Proper Job Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Jamie Beale
Set designer: Laura Davies
Me, Myself and Misha Dance Bramall Rock Void, Leeds Playhouse
Terpsichoring
Lighting Designer Choreographer: Ana Silverio
Dorian Theatre Square Chapel, Halifax, then touring
Proper Job Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Chloe Whitehead
Set designer: Laura Davies
Medusa Theatre Square Chapel, Halifax, then touring
Proper Job Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: James Beale
Set designer: Laura Davies
La Cenerentola Opera Leeds Grand Theatre
Opera North
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Matthew Haskins
Director: Aletta Collins
Set designer: Giles Cadle
Hansel and Gretel Opera Leeds Grand Theatre
Opera North
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Matthew Haskins
Director: Edward Dick
Set designer: Giles Cadle
The Snow Maiden Opera Leeds Grand Theatre
Opera North
Assistant Lighting Designer Lighting designer: Matthew Haskins
Director: John Fulljames
Set designer: Giles Cadle
Cinderella Opera Duke Studios, Leeds
Northern Opera Group
Lighting Designer Director: David Ward
You Forgot the Mince Theatre Civic Theatre, Barnsley, then touring
Imagine Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Stephen Whitson
Set designer: Emma Williams
Revenger's Tragedy Theatre University of York
Wellfangled Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Mark France
Set designer: Simon Jarvis
The Maids Theatre Rural Arts Courthouse, Thirsk, then touring
Hedgepig Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Andy Curry
59 Minutes to Save Christmas Theatre Z-Arts, Manchester
Slung Low
Lighting Designer Director: Alan Lane
Bag Lady Theatre Hull Truck Theatre, then touring
Hidden Gems Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Amanda Huxtable
Amsterdam Theatre Contact Theatre, Manchester, then touring
Afrique Performs
Lighting Designer Director: Juliet Ellis
Set designer: Giulia Scrimieri
59 Minutes to Save Christmas Theatre Cast, Doncaster
Slung Low
Lighting Designer
Bag Lady Theatre Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, then touring
Hidden Gems Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Amanda Huxtable
Colour Music Environmental Leeds Carriageworks
Light Night Leeds
Lighting Designer
Playboy of the Western World Theatre Seven Arts, Leeds, then touring
Hedgepig Theatre
Lighting Designer Director: Andy Curry
Miss Julie Theatre Leeds Carriageworks, then touring
Hedgepig Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Andy Curry
Othello Theatre York Theatre Royal Studio
York Shakespeare Project
Lighting Designer Director: Mark France
Set designer: Simon Jarvis
Playhouse Creatures Theatre 41 Monkgate, York
Hedgepig Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Andy Curry
Somebody's Son Theatre Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, then touring
Hidden Gems Productions
Lighting Designer Director: Amanda Huxtable
Set designer: Emma Williams
The Leeds Music Hub Corporate & Industrial The Leeds Music Hub
Lighting Designer
Narcissus and Echo Opera The Lowry, Salford, then touring
Lighting Designer Director: Chris Hill
Set designer: Lucy Read
Macbeth Theatre 41 Monkgate, York
Mooted Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Mark France
Set designer: Simon Jarvis
Mela Theatre West Yorkshire Playhouse Courtyard Theatre, then touring
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Lighting Designer Director: Alex Chisholm
Set designer: Barney George
Money Makes You Happy Theatre Bridewell Theatre
Baseless Fabric
Lighting Designer Director: Joanna Turner
Measure for Measure Theatre Bridewell Theatre
Baseless Fabric
Lighting Designer Director: Joanna Turner
Macbeth Theatre Bridewell Theatre
Baseless Fabric
Lighting Designer Director: Joanna Turner
The Memory of Water Theatre Hen and Chickens Theatre
Catlix
Lighting Designer Director: Britten Barry
An Experiment with An Air Pump Theatre Royal Court Theatre, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
John Lewis Amateur Dramatics
Lighting Designer
Touch Theatre White Bear Theatre
Baseless Fabric
Lighting Designer Director: Joanna Turner
Rainbow Conversations Theatre White Bear Theatre
Baseless Fabric
Lighting Designer Director: Joanna Turner
Saved or Destroyed Theatre Old Red Lion Theatre
The Kondoleon Project
Lighting Designer Director: Andrea Kantor
Translations Theatre MacOwan Theatre
LAMDA
Lighting Designer Director: Joseph Blatchley
Set designer: Richard Bullwinkle
Handbag Theatre MacOwan Theatre
LAMDA
Lighting Designer Director: Gari Jones
Set designer: Richard Bullwinkle
Accrington Pals Theatre MacOwan Theatre
LAMDA
Lighting Designer Director: Fiona Buffini
Set designer: Richard Bullwinkle
Deathtrap Theatre
Heritage Theatre Company
Lighting Designer Director: Karey Faulkner
Fur and Other Dangers Theatre Source Theatre, Washington DC
Source Theatre Company
Lighting Designer
Contact method Details
Email address kelli.zezulka@thealpd.org.uk