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Lighting Designer for Clod Ensemble: Under Glass, Zero, An Anatomie in Four Quarters

All of the Clod Ensemble’s work is original, fusing movement and music to communicate highly complex narratives or themes. The company’s work is research-led, and light is an integral part of the creative process. An Anatomy in Four Quarters at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, 2011 was preceded by a year-long period of R&D funded by the Jerwood Studio and the Wellcome Trust. This research focused on aspects of anatomy, and their inter-relationship with theatrical spaces and contributed to the Clod Ensemble’s Performing Medicine project. Schmidt worked closely with artistic director Suzy Willson and Professor of Surgical Education Roger Kneebone (Imperial College) on establishing the design and application of light as a key aspect of this training, and this research informed the lighting for An Anatomy. Through his ongoing work with the Clod Ensemble, Schmidt has developed a strong research interest in how immaterial aspects of scenography (light and music) can be given the same physical quality as a dancer’s body. Schmidt has further developed this research question through his work on the Clod’s productions Under Glass and Zero. Funding from the Wellcome Trust allowed for the use of lighting throughout rehearsals . The R+D phase and the rehearsals process became a lighting laboratory, and Schmidt was able to extend his research on the materiality of light. The outcomes of the research have been disseminated in two conference papers by invitation: “The Process of Looking”, Expanding Scenography 2 Conference, Riga, 2010; and “The Looking Machine”, Heiner Goebbels Symposium, Birmingham City University, 2011.The research outcomes presented in both papers looked closely at two aspects of Schmidt’s research question: how the immateriality of light is being manifest in a range of art and performance works (Riga), and how music and light can be synthesised to generate a powerful sense of place and narrative (Goebbels).