Theatreplan welcomes Michael Atkinson

Theatreplan is pleased to announce that lighting specialist Michael Atkinson, previously an Associate with the practice, has joined the team as a Partner. He comes to us after a 25-year career at the National Theatre, where he rose through the management team to become Head of Lighting Resources.

 

Michael has unique skills, being an experienced consultant and technician in a very specialist discipline in which most expertise resides in the manufacturers. His experience as a project manager and a client with the depth of knowledge of products in the luminaire, dimmer and control system fields that can challenge manufacturers’ and suppliers’ claims and can ensure that the specified products perform as required.

 

After training in theatre electrical engineering, Michael worked in the West End of London on the lighting of major shows such as The Sound of Music and then around the UK on tours of The Muppett Show. This particular show led to his being invited to New York to work on lighting control systems and some of the first animatronics for Jim Henson. Returning to the UK to work as a production electrician he was head-hunted by the National Theatre.

 

At the National, Michael undertook the design of new dimmer systems and control networks for the three main venues and other performance spaces and managed the complete rewiring and installation works. This was done while keeping each of the main theatres in use. He was also instrumental in reducing theatre power consumption significantly, extending lamp life by changing operational procedures and in cutting the external lighting load from 70 kW to 7 kW.

 

As an Associate for Theatreplan Michael designed the stage and working light control systems and dimmer engineering for the Copenhagen Opera, Sydney Opera House and has advised on other venues; he has also developed new control and distributed dimmer systems for two upgraded MTV studios and carried out the ground-up design of a further studio for the same client.

 

Prior to  joining us in a full-time capacity, as Head of Lighting Resources at the National Theatre, his work and focused on lighting facilities, controls, infrastructures, dimmers and luminaires, long term capital budgeting and running the  department responsible for the maintenance of all lighting equipment and installed lighting systems.

 

He is frequent contact with all the major suppliers and has organised dimmer and luminaire comparison demonstrations as part of his ongoing testing regime. He implements the Theatreplan policy of only specifying tried and tested industrial equipment that is fully supported by established suppliers in theatre systems.