Let there be light: the dean who offers illumination at HKAPA

Thinking about life as a lighting designer, a few ideas come to mind. But John Williams, now Dean of Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA), seems to have crammed more into his career than anyone could imagine. His accolades include teaching worldwide, publishing a book called Create Your Own Stage Lighting, and designing Hong Kong's world-famous Symphony of Lights.

John Williams, Dean of Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA)

Williams was just five the first time he saw a pantomime. His seat was in the heavens (gallery) at the Bristol Hippodrome, where he became mesmerised by the lights he was sitting so close to.

Despite his early fascination, it was after an event presented by the Old Vic theatre company that Williams discovered the technical side of lighting. "Watching made me want to do it too. It's all I ever wanted. At school, I took over lighting from the physics master," Williams explains. Now, his interests extend from events, to interiors, architecture and much more.

HKAPA, Rite of Spring 

For Williams, the process of becoming a lighting designer was very different to the one students will encounter nowadays. "When I studied, there were no courses, just my passion and a starting position." Working for the renowned Bristol Old Vic during his A-levels, Williams became a trainee lighting technician after finishing school.

Keen to progress from the bottom, Williams took just five years to move up to become head of lighting design for all three of the company's theatre venues. Working at the best theatre outside London meant productions that included talents such as Julie Walters, Alan Rickman and Daniel Day-Lewis.

But nowadays, Williams advises, lighting design is a much more complex industry. "You have to be able to cover different genres such as opera, theatre, events, concerts and even residential. Studying at a reputable institute is very important, and even if you have a degree, don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. With the right attitude and talent, you can rise to the top," he says.