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Nottingham Playhouse, a 760-seat producing theatre, required a specialist LED lighting solution for its production of Girls & Boys. With a minimalist set, lighting was essential in adapting to the production’s changing moods and scene transitions.
Ultra LEDs supplied RGB + 3000K LED tape, Neon Flex, and DMX-compatible LED drivers and controllers, selected for their dimming capabilities, adaptable RGB control, and seamless integration into both the set and auditorium.
This system allowed for fluid, dynamic lighting shifts, shaping the atmosphere without requiring physical set changes.
All photography by Johan Persson.
The lighting design had to define key visual elements, enhance transitions, and reinforce the production’s atmosphere within a static set.
Led by Molly Stammers (Head of Lighting & Video), the team focused on precise LED placement, clean cable management, and seamless connectivity to maintain a high-quality lighting standard across the venue.
"LED tape played a key role in the design process from the very beginning. It was used in two distinct ways — both as a practical ‘set LX’ element and as a more design-led feature."
– Molly Stammers, Head of Lighting & Video at Nottingham Playhouse
To meet the specific lighting requirements of Girls & Boys, Ultra LEDs supplied:
This customised system delivered full lighting control, allowing the theatre team to adapt scenes in real time while maintaining a discreet, high-performance setup.
“We added LED tape under the kitchen cabinets to give some ambience to the kitchen. We also retro-fitted some picture lights with LED tape. The tape itself fit nice and easily inside but trying to get five strands of cable up a tubing made for two was a fun job for the team!”
Since 1963, Nottingham Playhouse has been recognised for technical innovation and high-quality productions. The theatre’s approach to lighting design has evolved from traditional fixtures to advanced LED technology, allowing for greater creative flexibility and enhanced storytelling.
For Girls & Boys, lighting had to define emotional shifts, transitioning between warm, inviting tones and stark, isolating environments without physical set changes.
Lighting Designer Matt Haskins and Set Designer Janet Bird required a versatile lighting system that could shift the atmosphere without relying on physical scene changes.
Ultra LEDs’ RGB + 3000K LED tape and Neon Flex were chosen for their ability to define key moments and enhance mood transitions. LED Magic Horizon, integrated into the auditorium troughs, extended lighting effects beyond the stage, further immersing the audience.
By embedding RGBW LED tape within set elements, the lighting team ensured seamless transitions — from soft, ambient illumination to stark, isolating tones —enhancing the emotional depth of the production.
“Our auditorium is curved and our houselights lie in curved troughs. We ran LED tape round these troughs in both the Stalls and the Circle — they actually gave more of a uniform and controlled glow and gave Matt much more control over colour.”
For Girls & Boys, lighting replaced traditional set changes, meaning the design had to be discreet, adaptable, and fully integrated.
With no large set pieces to hide fixtures, the lighting had to be seamlessly integrated.
RGB + 3000K LED tape was embedded under kitchen cabinets and inside picture lights, ensuring ambient illumination without exposing hardware or altering the set’s clean aesthetic.
Rather than isolating the stage lighting from the audience, the design team aimed to extend the lighting composition into the theatre itself.
Installing Neon Flex along the curved auditorium troughs provided a consistent ambient glow, allowing for smoother transitions and a more immersive viewing experience.
The final scene required a curved, horizon-like lighting feature to frame the stage. Side-emitting LED tape was initially considered but lacked the required colour control. Neon Flex was chosen instead, offering better brightness and adaptability. It was secured using a skyline steel belt, ensuring the curve remained stable while achieving the desired lighting effect.
Ultra LEDs is proud to have supported Nottingham Playhouse on this standout production.
Follow @ultraleds.co.uk on Instagram for more commercial lighting projects.
Photography by Johan Persson.
Lighting a theatre, stage, or immersive set? Explore how our LED products support creative, flexible design.
