Biography
Luke has worked professionally in the live entertainment industry for over 20 years.
His interest in technical theatre started at school where he operated the lighting for a production of Little Shop of Horrors. He then joined the Theatre Royal Bath’s Young People’s Theatre Production Group and learnt many valuable skills among the industry professionals at the Theatre Royal. At the age of sixteen Luke was appointed Deputy Stage Manager on Peter Pan which was staged in the Theatre Royal Main House and subsequently went on to be employed for the Education Department’s annual Summer school, Storm on the Lawn.
Community Theatre
Luke has always had a keen interest in community theatre and has directed a number of pieces for local companies. He made his directing debut at the age of fifteen with the Bathford Players and a production of Peter Gordon’s Murdered to Death. Since then he has directed (or co-directed), Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Aladdin, Cinderella and Robin Hood & The Babes In The Woods (adapted and co-directed) for the Bathford Players.
Further Education
Luke spent two years at the City of Bath College studying a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Performance) – finishing the course with a triple distinction grade. Although he took the acting course (and continues to act occasionally now), his real love is theatre and event production.
Higher Education
In 2004 Luke gained a place at GSA (Guildford School of Acting) Conservatoire to study Stage Management and Technical Theatre where he was put on the AP(e)L (Accreditation to Prior Experience Learning) one year fast-track course.
Upon leaving GSA Luke went straight to work as a Freelance Technician working for a number of companies around the Bath area including Theatek Ltd, Enlightened Lighting and Invention Arts (now Chapel Arts Centre).
Theatre Bath
In November 2011 he set up Theatre Bath, an online community whose aim is to strengthen links between theatre companies in Bath and help to celebrate and champion theatre in this area. Theatre Bath has already had many successes including a concert in Royal Victoria Park. An open meeting with the Bath Chronicle when reviews were threatened to be cut from the paper and the Bath Theatre Matters Conference which took place in the Guildhall, Bath in October 2013.
Bath Spa University, The Cultural Forum & Wiltshire Arts Promoters
From 2013 to 2017 Luke worked at Bath Spa University as Assistant Events Manager and Duty Manager of Burdall’s Yard.
From 2013 to 2017 Luke sat on the board of directors for the Cultural Forum for the Bath Area.
In July 2013 he was asked by Wiltshire Arts Promoters to come on board and help get their new website – Wiltshire Loves Arts up and running. The site contains information on all cultural events within Wiltshire.
In 2014 Luke was Technical Manager for the Theatre Royal Bath’s Annual Summer School project Storm on the Lawn.
In April 2017 Luke, alongside co-director Zoe Bailey launched the Theatre Bath Bus.
In 2017 Luke was voted the 16th most influential person in Bath in a poll run by the Bath Chronicle and was also listed as one of the top 17 Twitter accounts in Bath. In 2018 he was voted 23rd most influential person in the same poll.
In 2018 the Theatre Bath Bus won the Creative Bath Award for Creative Space and also won a best venue award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 2018 Luke was Producer for the Forest Of Imagination – a large-scale, multi-disciplinary event which took over central Bath and was attended by over 6000 people.
Luke currently works mainly in Lighting Design working for a number of different companies in the South West.
Live Streaming and Online Event Management
Since the COVID-19 crisis Luke has moved to working online helping a number of different companies, organisations and individuals to realise their live stream potential. He has worked with musicians, theatre-makers and for a number of different conferences (in partnership with EON Global Live).