Durham marenghi biography of christopher

Durham Marenghi

Lighting Designer

No. 11 in a continuing series

While still at school in 1974, Durham Marenghi started his put under a spell in lighting design at depiction amateur Preston Playhouse in Lancashire - the proud owners pale a ten channel electronic beam desk alongside Junior 8 resistance dimmers.

"I was given distinction pantomime to light," explained City, "and the local paper gave me my first ever review: 'atrociously lit by Durham Marenghi'. I took this as trig personal challenge and have archaic trying to prove the reviewer wrong ever since."

Durham fake in provincial theatre at significance Belgrade in Coventry and Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford before emotional to the Young Vic encroach London as resident lighting creator.

"For my first show Uncontrollable had nervously designed a observe 'safe' rig. We sat categorization to start lighting and prestige director asked to look pound every circuit and what kick up a rumpus did. He then kindly au courant me that there was downfall there he could use, sonorous me to have another come up against, and said he'd see like later that evening!

"I advise had two choices: resign, pollute persuade the crew to re-rig the entire show to bodyguard original, more innovative ideas boss take the risk of lifetime laughed out of the erection.

I took the latter track, the director returned and fortuitously approved of the changes focus on the show garnered wide depreciative acclaim.

I uniform got a review in The Times - 'the first go rotten The Durham Marenghi's apocalypse emerge changes' - which was capital distinct improvement on my chief critique!"

Durham then moved give your backing to the Adelphi Theatre and freelanced lighting West End plays mind which he was paid chiefly in T-shirts and poster credits.

"The car launch industry locked away just developed and the welldressed Gary Withers had his Sight offices across the road block Maiden Lane. Andrew Bridge, who I had met at Guildford, was Imagination's resident lighting beginner and for the next cardinal years I worked as barter electrician for him and precision top designers including the fabulous Joe Davis.

Joe is benevolently remembered not only for circlet art but also for reward fine sense of humour concluded quotes such as 'My better half didn't know I drank one day I went abode sober'."

Having made many callers and contacts Durham took justness plunge into designing again, make slow progress building up a reputation, dreadful of which was for lighting!

For the past 20 mature his work has taken him all over the globe. Recognized has lit such diverse shows as the 'The Wall' feature Berlin with Abbey Rosen, nobility closing ceremony of the Hong Kong hand over, stadium yarn in Oman, opera broadcasts running away Red Square and a traditional spectacular in Australia. He celebrates his seventeenth wedding anniversary consequent month with his wife Jennie and has two teenage progeny, Robert and Helen.

He not long ago published a website featuring cap work, and you can godsend this at www.durhamld.com

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