James Farncombe

Lighting Designer

James works internationally in opera, theatre and dance.  He has lit productions for many prestigious companies including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera, New York, Vienna State Opera, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Berlin State Opera, Munich State Opera, Paris Opera (Garnier and Bastille), Teatro Real (Madrid), Opera Lyon, Dutch National Opera (Amsterdam), Aix-en-Provence International Opera Festival, Norwegian National Opera (Oslo), Hamburg Opera, Köln Opera, Scottish Opera and Opera North.  Theatre includes many shows for the National Theatre, Young Vic, RSC, Donmar Warehouse, the Almeida, Hamburg Schauspielhaus, the Odeon in Paris, the Lyric Hammersmith and West End.  He lives in London.

Awards and Nominations

Golden Mask Award nomination for Best Lighting Designer for Opera for Alcina at Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.


Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Light for a Play for The Tempest at St Ann's Warehouse


2016 Olivier Award nomination for People, Places and Things at the Dorfman, National Theatre.


2012 Knights of Illumination Award for The Duchess of Malfi at the Old Vic.


2011 WhatsOnStage Whitelight Best Lighting Award for Ghost Stories at the Duke of York’s Theatre, West End.


2010 TMA Best Lighting Design nomination for Ghost Stories at Lyric Hammersmith.


2009 TMA Best Lighting Design nomination for Private Fears in Public Places, Northampton Theatre Royal.


2007 Knights of Illumination nomination for tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! at the Bush Theatre.

List Of Productions

2024

THE OTHER PLACE | Director: Alexander Zeldin | National Theatre

THE CHERRY ORCHARD | Benedict Andrews | Donmar Warehouse

JENŮFA | Director: Claus Guth | Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma, Italy

IL TROVATORE | Director: Immo Karaman | Hamburg Opera, Germany

IDOMENEO | Director: Florris Visser | Cologne Opera, Germany

PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS | Director: Jeremy Herrin | Trafalgar Theatre

THE CHERRY ORCHARD | Simon Stone | LG Arts Center, South Korea

INNOCENCE |  Director: Simon Stone | San Francisco Opera, US 

PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE | Director: Susanna Malkki and Katie Mitchell | Aix-en-Provence, France

2023

THE NUTCRACKER | Director: Kaloyan Boyadjiev | Norway National Ballet

MEFISTOFELE | Director: Simon Stone | Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma, Italy

VANYA | Director: Sam Yates | Richmond Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre, West End

JENŮFA | Director: Claus Guth | Lyric Opera Chicago, US 

INNOCENCE | Director: Simon Stone | Royal Opera House

BLUE | Director: Tinuke Craig | English National Opera

TRISTAN & ISOLDE | Director: Simon Stone | Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

JENUFA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Palau de les Arts, Valencia, Spain

CARMEN | Director: John Fulljames | Scottish Opera

PHAEDRA | Director: Simon Stone | National Theatre

DIE TOTE STADT | Director: Annilese Miskimmon | English National Opera

2022

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR | Director Simon Stone | LA Opera

JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN | Director: Nicholas Hytner | Bridge Theatre

INNOCENCE | Director: Simon Stone | Finnish National Opera and Ballet

THE BLUE WOMAN | Director: Katie Mitchell | Royal Opera House/Snape Maltings Concert Hall

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR | Director: Simon Stone | MET Opera

TRAUERNACHT | Director: Katie Mitchell | Opéra National de Lyon, France

L'ORFEO | Director: Tom Morris | Wiener Staatsoper, Austria

WOZZECK | Director: Simon Stone | Wiener Staatsoper, Austria

THEODORA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Royal Opera House

2021

JENUFA | Director: Claus Guth | Royal Opera House

DER ZWERG | Director: Nanouk Leopold | Dutch National Opera

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE | Director: Simon Stone | Aix en Provence, France

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS/MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL | Director: Isabelle Kettle | Royal Opera House

LA TRAVIATA | Director: Simon Stone | Vienna Staatsoper, Austria

INNOCENCE | Director: Simon Stone | Aix En Provence, France

2020

COPENHAGEN | Director: Polly Findlay | Theatre Royal Bath

YERMA | Director: Simon Stone | Schaubühne Berlin, Germany

OP HOOP VAN ZEGEN | Director: Simon Stone | International Theatre Amsterdam, The Netherlands

STREET SCENE | Director: John Fulljames | Opera Monte Carlo, Monaco

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Bavarian State Opera Munich, Germany

CARMEN | Choreographer: Liam Scarlett | Finnish National Opera and Ballet

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS | Director: Katie Mitchell | Finnish National Opera

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS | Director: Katie Mitchell | Royal Danish Opera

INNOCENCE | Director: Simon Stone | Dutch National Opera

2019

ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Grany

GHOST STORIES | Director: Sean Holmes | Lyric Hammersmith/ West End/ UK Tour

LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Hamburg State Opera, Germany

STREET SCENE | Director: John Fulljames | Oper Köln, Germany

LA TRILOGIE DE LA VENGEANCE | Director: Simon Stone | Odeon Théâtre de l'Europe, France

ZAUBERLAND | Director: Katie Mitchell | Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, France

LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Opera Lyon, France

LA TRAVIATA | Director: Simon Stone | Paris Opera, France

WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENTLY TORTURED EACH OTHER | Director: Katie Mitchell | National Theatre, Dorfman

2018

THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND | Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons | Almeida

THE NUTCRACKER | Choreographer: Kaloyan Boyadjev | Norwegian National Ballet

JENUFA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Nationale Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS | Director: Katie Mitchell | Aix En Provence, France

YERMA | Director: Simon Stone | Young Vic/ Park Avenue Armory, NY, US

MACBETH | Director: Rufus Norris | National Theatre

LESSONS IN LOVE AND VIOLENCE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Royal Opera House & Nationale Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam

STREET SCENE | Director: John Fulljames | Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain

2017

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS | Director: Jeremy Herrin | UK Tour

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS | Director: Jeremy Herrin | St Ann's Warheouse, NY, US 

FRANCESCA DA RIMINI / RICCARDO ZANDONAI | Director: Nicola Raab | Opera National Du Rhin, France

ALCINA |  Director: Katie Mitchell | Bolshoi Theatre of Russia

MIRANDA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Opera Comique, France

UIT HET LEVEN VAN MARIONETTEN | Director: Nanouk Leopold | Toneelgroep Amsterdam, The Netherlands

YERMA | Director: Simon Stone | Young Vic

IBSEN HUIS | Director: Simon Stone | Toneelgroep, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ANATOMY OF SUICIDE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Royal Court

TWELFTH NIGHT | Director: Simon Godwin | The National Theatre

PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE | Director: Simon Stone | Den Norske Opera, Norway

THE TEMPEST | Director: Phyllida Lloyd | St. Ann's Warehouse, New York, US 

2016

DE MEIDEN | Director: Katie Mitchell | Toneel Grouep Amsterdam, The Netherlands

THE DRESSER | Director: Sean Foley | Richmond Theatre/ Duke of York’s Theatre, West End

THE TRILOGY | Director: Phyllida Lloyd | Donmar Productions

THE NUTCRACKER | Choreographer: Kaloyan Boyadjev | Norwegian National Ballet

YERMA | Director: Simon Stone | Young Vic

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | Director: Annabel Arden | Glyndebourne

PELLÉAS ET MELISÁNDE | Director: Katie Mitchell | Aix-en-Provence International Festival, France

BUGSY MALONE | Director: Sean Holmes | Lyric Hammersmith

LIFE | Ballet Boyz | Sadler’s Wells/ UK Tour

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS | Director: Jeremy Herrin | Wyndham’s Theatre, West End

BENJAMIN DERRIÈRE NUIT | Director: John Fulljames | Opera de Lyon, France

ARIODANTE | Director: Henry Fehr | Scottish Opera

2015

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS | Director: Jeremy Herrin | National Theatre

BUGSY MALONE | Director: Sean Holmes | Lyric Hammersmith

MAN AND SUPERMAN | Director: Simon Godwin | National Theatre

CARMEN | Choreographer: Liam Scarlett | Norwegian National Ballet

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO | Director: Jo Davies | Opera North

ALCINA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Aix-en-Provence International Festival, France

MEASURE FOR MEASURE | Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons | Young Vic

HENRY IV | Director: Phyllida Lloyd | Donmar Warehouse/ St. Ann’s Warehouse

HAPGOOD | Director: Howard Davies | Hampstead Theatre

THE MODERATE SOPRANO | Director: Jeremy Herrin | Hampstead Theatre

2014

THE WAY BACK HOME | Director: Katie Mitchell | ENO/ Young Vic

THREE WINTERS | Director: Howard Davies | Lyttleton, National Theatre

THE WHITE DEVIL | Director: Maria Aberg | Swan, RSC

THE CHERRY ORCHARD | Director: Katie Mitchell | Young Vic

FATHER AND SONS | Director: Lyndsey Turner | Donmar Warehouse

NOT, FOOTFALLS, ROCKABY | Director: Walter Asmus | Royal Court

TRANSLATIONS | Director: James Grieve | Sheffield Crucible/ ETT Tour

RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN | Director: Peter Dubois | Hampstead Theatre

TRAUERNACHT | Director: Katie Mitchell | Aix-en-Provence International Festival, France

2013

JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN PERFECT NONSENSE | Director: Sean Foley | Richmond Theatre/ Duke of York’s, West End/ UK Tour

EDWARD II | Director: Joe Hill Gibbons | Olivier, National Theatre

AS YOU LIKE IT | Director: Maria Aberg | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RSC

A MAD WORLD MY MASTERS | Director: Sean Foley | Swan, RSC

AND THE REST WILL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU FROM CINEMA | Director: Katie Mitchell | Hamburg Schauspielhaus, Germany

LONGING | Director: Nina Raine | Hampstead Theatre

THE HOUSE TAKEN OVER | Director: Katie Mitchell | Aix-en-Provence International Festival, France

LE VIN HERBÉ | Director: Katie Mitchell | Berlin Staaastsoper, Germany

FIREBIRD | Liam Scarlett | Norwegian National Ballet

DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER | Director: Harry Fehr | Scottish Opera

PREVIOUS THEATRE

THE LADYKILLERS | Director: Sean Foley | Liverpool Playhouse/ Gielgud Theatre/ Vaudeville Theatre, West End/ UK Tour

PEOPLE | Director: Nicholas Hytner | Lyttelton, National Theatre

THE MAGISTRATE | Director: Timothy Sheader | Olivier, National Theatre/ UK Tour

LONDON ROAD | Director: Rufus Norris | Cottesloe and Olivier, National Theatre

JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK | Howard Davies | Lytellton, National Theatre and Abbey Theatre

MEN SHOULD WEEP | Director: Josie Rourke | Lytellton, National Theatre

DOUBLE FEATURE | Director: Lyndsey Turner and Polly Findlay | Paintframe, National Theatre

THREE SISTERS | Director: Benedict Andrews | Young Vic

THE CHANGELING | Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons | Young Vic

THE GLASS MENAGERIE | Director: Joe Hill-Gibbons | Young Vic

GHOST STORIES | Director: Jeremy Dyson, Sean Holmes and Andy Nyman | Lyric Hammersmith/ Duke of York’s, West End

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS | Director: Sean Holmes | Lyric Hammersmith

THE OVERCOAT | Director: Amit Lahav | Lyric Hammersmith

TWISTED TALES | Director: Polly Findlay | Lyric Hammersmith

THE RECRUITING OFFICER | Director: Josie Rourke | Donmar Warehouse

INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE | Director: Jamie Lloyd | Donmar Warehouse

THE DUCHESS OF MALFI | Director: Jamie Lloyd | Old Vic

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE | Director: James Grieve | Royal Court

THE VILLAGE BIKE | Director: Joe-Hill Gibbons | Royal Court

WANDERLUST | Director: Simon Godwin | Royal Court

WHAT’S IN THE CAT? | Director: Paulette Randell | Royal Court

BLEST BE THE TIE | Director: Paulette Randell | Royal Court

PLENTY | Director: Thea Sharrock | Sheffield Crucible

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS | Director: Tom Morris | Bristol Old/ West End/ UK Tour

JULIET AND HER ROMEO | Director: Tom Morris | Bristol Old Vic

ADOLF HITLER: MY PART IN HIS DOWNFALL | Director: Tim Carroll | Bristol Old Vic/ Hampstead/ Rho Delta/ UK Tour

LIKE A FISHBONE | Director: Josie Rourke | Bush Theatre

THE WHISKEYTASTER | Director: Josie Rourke | Bush Theatre

2000 FEET AWAY | Director: Josie Rourke | Bush Theatre

TINDERBOX | Director: Josie Rourke | Bush Theatre

THE DYSFUNCKSHONALZ! | Director: Tamara Harvey | Bush Theatre

CROOKED | Director: Mike Bradwell | Bush Theatre

I LIKE MINE WITH A KISS | Director: Mike Bradwell | Bush Theatre

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM | Director: Matthew Dunster | Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

RAGTIME | Director: Timothy Sheader | Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

LORD OF THE FLIES | Director: Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel | Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

DANCING AT LUGHNASA | Director: Tamara Harvey | Birmingham Rep

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS | Director: Peter Rowe | Birmingham Rep

FORWARD | Director: Natalie Wilson | Birmingham Rep

THREE SISTERS | Director: Paulette Randall | Birmingham Rep

TAKING CARE OF BABY | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

OSAMA THE HERO | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

A SINGLE ACT | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

NATHAN WISE | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

BLONDE BOMBSHELLS OF 1943 | Director: Mark Babych | Hampstead/ Bolton Octagon/ UK Tour

THE LITTLE PRINCE | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

LIFE AFTER SCANDAL | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

THE MATHS TUTOR | Director: Anthony Clark | Hampstead

BREAKING THE SILENCE | Director: Esther Richardson

BEAUTIFUL THING | Nottingham Playhouse

BEAST ON THE MOON | Nottingham Playhouse

TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN | Nottingham Playhouse

I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE | Nottingham Playhouse

A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG | Nottingham Playhouse

A WINTER’S TALE | UK Tour

BEDROOM FARCE | West Yorkshire Playhouse

VINCENT IN BRIXTON | Ipswich New Wolsey

CHIMPS | Ipswich New Wolsey

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM | Ipswich New Wolsey

BLUES IN THE NIGHT | Ipswich New Wolsey

THE GLASS MENAGERIE | Ipswich New Wolsey

IMPROBABLE FICTION | Stephen Joseph Theatre

TOUCH WOOD | Stephen Joseph Theatre

SOAP | Stephen Joseph Theatre

MAKING WAVES | Stephen Joseph Theatre

BE MY BABY | New Vic

EAST IS EAST | New Vic

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE | New Vic