Announcing The 2026 Recipient—Lighting Designer, Spencer Herd
Lighting Designer Spencer Herd is a multidisciplinary lighting designer and artist working across all forms of live performance including theatre, contemporary circus, cabaret, concerts and events. He is also highly skilled visual artist who favours acrylic and pencil mediums. Seeking new perspectives and innovative outlooks, he is a dynamic and collaborative artist with a painterly approach that values detail, nuance and complexity. Spencer especially values new Australian works, queer stories and compelling storytelling.
Spencer Herd
The last Train to Madeline by Callum Mackay. Photo by Liv Morison.
Recent credits as lighting designer include: Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett by Sheridan Harbridge and Sarah Goodes, the 2025 Green Room Award nominated in Best Lighting Design for The Last Train to Madeline by Callum Mackay, SUGAR by Ro Bright, Thirty-Six by Jo CliUord, a scary thing happened by the CAMPFIRE by Split Focus, Given Volume by Matthias Schack-Arnott, Romeo & Julie by Gary Owen, and FAMOUS by the National Institute of Circus Arts. Spencer has been associate lighting designer for Paul Jackson on Truth (Malthouse Theatre); with Rachel Burke on Rhinoceros (Spinning Plates Co), and Far Away (Patalog Theatre), Wittenoom and Iphigenia in Splott (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); Katie Sfetkidis on Monolith (Joel Bray Dance), Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (Little Ones Theatre) and Homopentacostus (Malthouse Theatre); and Phoebe Pilcher on A Model Murder (Sydney Festival) and La Cage aux Folles (Playhouse ACM). He seconded with Trent Suidgeest on Muriel’s Wedding the Musical for Global Creatures at Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne.
Exhibitions: SMALL! 2025 | presented by Forty Five downstairs Fifty Squared Art Prize 2025 | presented by Brunswick Street Art Gallery.
SUGAR by Ro Bright. Photo by James Reiser.
The last Train to Madeline by Callum Mackay. Photo by Liv Morison.
Awards & Achievements: Green Room Awards 2025 | Nomination for Outstanding Lighting Design—The Last Train to Madeline by Callum Mackay Meat Market Stables, June 2024 Presented by Fever103, Directed by Hayden Tonazzi, Lighting Design by Spencer Herd Set & Costume Design by Savanna Wegman, Photographed by Liv Morison Adeline. Melbourne Fringe | WA Touring Award—a scary thing happened by the CAMPFIRE FRINGE WORLD. Weekly Winner | Theatre & Performance Award—WHAT OF IT. A Brush with Art—Fine Arts School | Community Artist Award, 5 Years Artistic Outstanding Commitment, Brother Mac Outstanding Artist Award
Website: www.spencerherd.com
The Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship for Design in The Performing Arts www.fredriksonscholarship.com
a scary thing happened by the CAMPFIRE. Photo by Anais Stewart.
a scary thing happened by the CAMPFIRE. Photo by Anais Stewart.
FAMOUS by Carita Farrer Spencer. Photo by Cameron Grant.
The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh
