Ben Cracknell: From Rose Bruford College to Award-Winning Lighting Designer
Graduating from Rose Bruford College with a BA in lighting in 2001, Ben Cracknell has built an internationally acclaimed career as a lighting designer, working across theatre, opera and television. Today, he is recognised as one of the UK’s leading creative lighting designers, with an impressive portfolio spanning the West End, major regional theatres, international productions and live television broadcasts.
Now an Associate Artist at Curve Theatre, Leicester, Ben has spent more than two decades helping bring stories to life through light, designing productions that have captivated audiences across the UK and around the world.
From Rose Bruford College to the West End
Ben’s career has taken him to some of the UK’s most prestigious theatres, where his lighting designs have become an integral part of many acclaimed productions.
His West End credits include Kinky Boots at London Coliseum, Clueless at the Trafalgar Theatre, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and The Wizard of Oz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at London Palladium. He has also designed lighting for productions including Heathers, Grease, Annie, Young Frankenstein, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Drifters Girl and The Great British Bake Off Musical.
Alongside these productions, Ben helped create the spectacular visual world of London Palladium’s celebrated pantomimes for more than a decade, designing the lighting for Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Jack & the Beanstalk.
Creating Theatre Across the UK and Beyond
While Ben’s work is synonymous with the West End, his career has also seen him collaborate with leading producing theatres and companies across the UK.
His credits include productions at Glyndebourne, Curve, Theatr Clwyd, Birmingham Rep, Leeds Playhouse and York Theatre Royal, as well as major UK tours of Legally Blonde, The Cher Show, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rock of Ages, The Addams Family and Saturday Night Fever.
His expertise has also led to an international career, with productions staged across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Highlights include Heathers in New York, Maria Theresia in Vienna, La Clemenza di Tito for Opéra de Lausanne and Bilbao Opera, the Wicked World Tour, and productions in Germany, Japan, Singapore and Canada.
Lighting Live Television
Alongside his theatre work, Ben has become one of the UK’s most respected television lighting designers.
His television credits include the Classic BRIT Awards, The Prince’s Trust and every Olivier Awards ceremony from 2011 to 2025, where his work has helped shape the visual presentation of one of British theatre’s most prestigious annual events.
Award-Winning Creativity
Ben’s outstanding contribution to lighting design has been recognised with two Knight of Illumination Awards for Best Lighting, honouring his exceptional creativity, technical expertise and artistic vision.
His career demonstrates the breadth of opportunities available to lighting designers, with work spanning musicals, opera, touring productions, live events and broadcast television.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Ben’s journey from studying at Rose Bruford College to becoming an internationally recognised lighting designer is a testament to where a career in production arts can lead.
Whether designing intimate drama, large-scale musicals or internationally broadcast award ceremonies, his work continues to shape how audiences experience live performance. His success reflects the creativity, technical skill and collaboration that sit at the heart of Rose Bruford College’s production arts training and serves as an inspiration to the next generation of theatre makers.
Curious about your creative career?
Find out more about BA Creative Lighting Control, where you’ll develop the technical knowledge, creative expertise and practical skills to become part of the next generation of Lighting and Video Programmers, Show Control Systems Engineers and Technical Managers, working across theatre, live events, concerts, corporate productions, film and television.
Keep in touch
We’re always very happy to hear from former students of Rose Bruford College.
To keep the College up-to-date with your contact details, or just to get in touch, please email: [email protected]