Lighting designer make first design for renovated Richardson Studio Theatre
Winnipeg-based lighting designer Scott Henderson has been working for MTYP longer than MTYP has been in its Forks location. That’s almost three decades. Henderson has worked on 19 MTYP shows over the years, and is delighted to have his designs featured for our first-ever performance in the newly renovated Richardson Studio Theatre. He’s designed for theatres across Canada including the Stratford and Shaw Festivals as well as for Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, and Manitoba Opera. He is also currently the Lighting Director for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and teaches Lighting Design at The University of Winnipeg.
What was the first show you worked on at MTYP’s Forks building when it was new. Describe the experience?
The first production I designed at the brand new MTYP building at The Forks was The Story of The Little Gentleman. It was a charming play about a lonely man who meets a stray dog that changes his life. It was a two-hander, and I only remember that the director was Swedish and Kim Selody was in it. I can’t remember the other actor. It was the first production in the brand new space, and only my second production for MTYP. If I recall correctly, we used “arena” seating where the audience sat on two sides and the stage was in the middle.
Scott Henderson
It was a relatively simple lighting design with very few cues, but a good choice as we were working with new equipment and the first time in a new space. It was great to be working with new lighting fixtures and a new lighting console. I had been involved with selecting the new equipment, and it was a relief to me that everything seemed to work as planned.
You’ve been involved in many MTYP shows over the years. Tell us about some of the highlights.
My first lighting design for MTYP was Peacemaker in 1998 – directed by Kim Selody at the Gas Station Theatre, the year before MTYP’s new venue opened. Gather will be my eighteenth show in the new building. All of the shows were entertaining and fun to light. A highlight from those years was working on The Hobbit. This show made great use of the flexible space. It was promenade style with the audience sitting on the floor and the performance happening around them. The dragon appeared from behind a mountain from the catwalk. It was a challenge to light, but a wonderful show.
Another highlight was MTYP’s 2004 production of A Year with Frog and Toad, a super fun musical with a terrific cast. We remounted the show at The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and it was a huge hit. Another memorable show was Silverwing. It was an interesting use of video (Deco Dawson) integrated into the design. The last show I designed (before Gather) was James and the Giant Peach in 2015. Another large musical with fantastic set design and large cast. Although I love designing shows at MTYP, it’s great to see new and younger designers having a chance to start their careers here.
How has MTYP changed over the years?
Artistically, I think the vision of the original founders of the company has remained, but it has expanded to include larger and more technically complex productions. Over the years, the integration of video into productions has opened up new avenues for design.
What’s your role in Gather? And how does the newly renovated Richardson Studio Theatre make your job easier (assuming that it does)?
I’m very pleased to be the Lighting Designer for Gather, the first production in the newly renovated space. Having this second more intimate (and flexible) space in the building opens up so many possibilities for additional productions in the season, and for outside groups to use the venue. The new lighting equipment includes a number of LED fixtures that add a new level of flexibility in terms of colour. We can use a smaller number of lights to achieve more. In addition, the new lighting console is extremely powerful in terms of programming complex lighting cues and effects.
MTYP thanks Scott for his immeasurable contributions to our organization. Scott is always a joy to have in the building. He’s funny, talented and has an ability to bring electromagnetic radiation to any situation.
Audience member in Gather (2025) Set, Props and Costumes Ksenia Broda-Milian, Lighting Scott Henderson Photo: Leif Norman
