Ryan Joseph Stafford

Ryan is an award-winning Lighting Designer working internationally for theatre and dance. He trained at Rose Bruford College, graduating with a First Class BA Honours Degree in Lighting Design. Ryan received a Masters with Distinction in Art & Politics from Goldsmiths, University of London following his research into ‘Political Light’.

Recent designs include: Scenes from the Climate Era (Gate Theatre); More Life (Royal Court); The Exhibition (The Royal Ballet, London); Kontakthof: Echoes of ‘78 (Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch/ Sadler’s Wells/ Theatertreffen, Berlin); Hot Mess (Birmingham Hippodrome/ Edinburgh Fringe 2025/ Southwark Playhouse); KABEL (Sadler’s Wells East); KISMET: Gallery of Consequence (Rambert); Olion (Frân Wen, Wales); Splinter (Red Oak/ Sherman Theatre, Cardiff); Rope (Theatr Clwyd); Natalia Osipova: Force of Nature (New York City Center, International Tour); Bacon (Edinburgh 2023, Riverside Studios, Finborough, SoHo Playhouse NYC, International Tour); Vortex (Russell Maliphant Dance Company); Can This Place Be A Temple? (The Place, UK Tour); Grimeboy (Birmingham Rep); Dance for Ukraine (London Coliseum); Codi (National Dance Company of Wales); Isla (Theatr Clwyd & Royal Court); Generation Goldfish (Bayerisches Staatsballett, Munich); Left from Write (Norwegian National Ballet); To Start With, Shades of Blue and Together, Not the Same (Sadler’s Wells).

Ryan was awarded ‘Best Lighting Design’ by the Off West End Awards for the international tour of Bacon. In 2019, he received the ‘Michael Northern Award for Excellence in Lighting Design’ from the Association of Lighting Designers. He received a Critics’ Choice Nomination from the Profile Awards for KABEL at Sadler’s Wells East. 

Ryan is an Associate Artist of Red Oak Theatre Company.