Tom
Wightwick (RL 20)

Thinking back to your time at Redlands, what subjects did you enjoy most, and are there any memories that still stand out to you?

When I look back at my time at Redlands, I mostly remember my involvement in the Music and Drama departments, both through classes and a wide range of extracurricular activities. Anything creative was where I felt most at home, and my time in the production club after school gave me a strong foundation to step into a professional career while I was still a student. I always loved helping out with the musicals, gala arts, and the drama and music soirées behind the scenes.

What did the first 12 months after finishing school look like for you? Did you always know what you wanted to do next?

I had already started freelancing and working casually in the industry from age 15, so the first 12 months after leaving school were incredibly busy. I travelled to Adelaide to work as a lighting operator at the Adelaide Fringe before returning to Sydney to continue freelancing. During that time, I worked at the Sydney Opera House, on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, across multiple music festivals, and on a range of other live events. In November 2021, I joined Mandylights, Australia’s leading lighting and production design firm, as part of their creative team.

What does your career look like today, and what are you most enjoying or excited about in your work at the moment?

I’m still with Mandylights and now lead the design of projects globally. Most notably, I’m one of the key creatives behind the lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay for Vivid Sydney each year. I’ve also worked on major events such as Sydney WorldPride and the BBC Proms, and toured with artists including JADE, Sienna Spiro, Simone Biles, Empire of the Sun, RAYE and PNAU.

At the moment, I’m looking forward to a month at home before heading back to the UK for my next tour with Sienna Spiro. In the meantime, I’ll be working on this year’s Vivid festival, lighting a production of A Chorus Line, and lighting up the Opera House for Apple’s 50th anniversary.