Spencer Herd

by Jo Clifford and Bayley Turner

fortyfivedownstairs, 2025

Performers Bayley Turner & Alexandra Amerides

Voiceover Jo Clifford

Film ‘These are my Hands’ by Evi Tsiligaridou

Director Kitan Petkovski

Set and Costume Designer Bethany J Fellows

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Composer & Sound Designer Di Drew

Video Designer Aron Murray

Stage Manager/Operator Daniel Gigliotti

Producers Ro Bright & Cameron Lukey

Photographed by James Reiser

“Spencer Herd’s Lighting designs are bold and support the epic nature of Turner’s emotional journey throughout the performance. From intimate confessionals about the nuances of her own lived experience, to fierce oration about her own, and other trans people’s, place within spirituality, history and the present day; the production design uplifts the themes beautifully.” Theatre Matters

by Split Focus Projects

Gasworks Arts Park, 2024

Acrobats Louis Green, Griffin Hooper & Naz Turner

Co-Directors Alonso Pineda & Samuel Boyd

Set & Costume Design Savanna Wegman

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Samuel Boyd

Production Manager Kofi Isaacs

Photographed by Anais Stewart

“The design elements excel in every area particularly with Spencer Herd's lighting, which heighten the horror of the circumstances the men find themselves in. Savanna Wegman's set depicts a creepy forest with dark corners where anything can jump out from. A smoke machine creates a swirling mist with tree branches eerily hanging along the sides of the stage.” My Melbourne Arts

by Matthias Schack-Arnott

David Li Sound Gallery, 2024

Composition and Performance Matthias Schack-Arnott 

Lighting Design Spencer Herd

Computer Programming Nick Roux 

Presented by Monash University

Photographed by John Lloyd Fillingham

by Ro Bright

Melbourne Fringe, 2024

Performer Tomáš Kantor

Director Kitan Petkovski

Set & Costume Designer Bethany J Fellows

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Rachel Lewindon

Produced by Bullet Heart Club

Photographed by James Reiser 

by Callum Mackay

Meat Market Stables, 2024

Presented by Fever103 Theatre

Director Hayden Tonazzi

Cast Ruby Maishman & Eddie Orton

Set & Costume Designer Savanna Wegman

Composer & Sound Designer Oliver Beard

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Producer & Production Manager Harry Dowling

Associate Producer Seamus Allan

Stage Manager Finn McLeish

Photographed by Liv Morison

"Spencer Herd’s lighting design likewise bathes the space with stunning golden hues that filter memory and elegant use of shadows and rich blues." - Theatre Matters

"Spencer Herd’s lighting design and Oliver Beard’s sound design and composition add greatly to the spectacle and belief engendered in the audience. Plaudits to both. The lighting has an ethereal quality to it and includes a stunning silhouette scene, while the sound combines realistic effects with head banging music stings." - The Blurb

by Carita Farrer Spencer

National Institute of Circus Arts, 2024

Director Carita Farrer Spencer

Costume Designer Savanna Wegman

Set Designer Tim Rutty

Sound Designer Darius Kedros

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Cast NICA 3rd Yr Students

Production Manager Scott Grayland

Show Riggers Andrew Dyson & Kyle Raftery

Safety Officer Leo Pentland

Stage Manager Edwina Guinness

Photographed by Cameron Grant

"The sound of photographers flashbulbs – a refrain supported by an exceptional lighting design by Spencer Herd. Similarly at one point a cyr wheel becomes the spotlight, danced and exulted in until it’s not and gets brutally torn away. It’s one of many captivating moments." - Arts Review

by Martin McDonagh

The Old Fitz Theatre, 2024

Director Anna Houston

Cast Ruby Henaway, Abe Mitchell, Lee Beckhurst, Andre de Vanny

AssistantDirector Phaedra Nicolaidis

ProductionManager Saz Watson

Set & CostumeDesigner Kate Beere

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer & Composer Zachary Saric

Stage Manager Anthony Speed

Dialect Coach Linda Nicholls Gidley

Fight Choreographer Scott Witt

Publicist Sean Hall

Photographed by Saz Watson

"Lighting designer Spencer Herd skilfully creates a sense of entrapment and unease. Misty white light hangs over the stage, enclosing the space and confining both actors and audience to the brothers’ gloomy home. The yellow lamplight which initially lures us with its warmth is quickly revealed to be aposematic – a warning that this world is anything but cosy and serene. 

Herd’s most acute cautions are delivered during scene transitions, in collaboration with sound designer Zac Saric and director Anna Houston. The actors are given space to linger at the end of each scene, all sound and lighting static as they stare into the audience. Suddenly, a jarring blackout and thunderous rock melodies descend upon the stage. The audience is rattled from their reverie, and the days and hours pass. These transitions are an undeniable triumph for the audio-visual design team." - Theatre Travels

"The lighting design by Spencer Herd brings varying depths of focus to these scenes, while still preserving the dingy, cool tones of the set and costumes. It’s as if the brothers live in the marshes that surround them – which means anything brighter than glib, mossy green has your immediate attention." - Time Out

by Gary Owen

Red Stitch Actors' Theatre, 2024

Director Kamarra Bell Wykes

Set & Costume Designer Sophie Woodward

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer small sound

Intimacy Coordinator Margot Fenley

Stage Manager Kelly Wilson

Assistant Stage Manager Finn McLeish

Cast Damon Baudin, Shontane Farmer, Claudia Greenstone, Justin Hosking, Belinda McClory, Alfie Baker (Undersudy)

Photographed by Jodie Hutchinson

by Emily Sheehan

The Old Fitz Theatre, 2024

Producing Company New Ghosts Theatre Company

Director Lucy Clements

Producer Emma Wright

Cast Madeline Li, Megan O'Connell, Jennifer Rani, Charles Upton, Emma Wright

Set Designer Soham Apte

Costume Designer Rita Naidu

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Sam Cheng

Stage Manager Alex Liang

Assistant Stage Manager Oscar Ali

Intimacy Coordinator Shondelle Pratt

Dramaturg Tamar Saphra

Assistant Lighting Designer Isobel Morrissey

Assistant Director Jeremi Campese

Assistant Producers Megan Sampson, Shannon Thomas, Claudia Elbourne

Assistant Set & Costume Designer Bella Wellstead

Assistant Sound Designer Sparks Sanders Robinson

Rehearsal Assistant Jollee Hacadurian-Sacco

Photographed by Phil Erbacher

by Charles Busch

fortyfivedownstairs, 2023

Director Stephen Nicolazzo

Cast Jennifer Vuletic, Artemis Ioannides, Ash Flanders, Zoe Boesen, Brigid Gallacher, Tom Dent and John Marc Desengano, with Marko Pecer, Jasmin Larranaga, Anastacia Barres, and Jackie Van LieRop

Movement Director Ash Pike

Set and Costume Designer Nathan Burmeister

Lighting Designer Katie Sfetkidis

Lighting Associate Spencer Herd

Sound Designer and Composer Daniel Nixon and Danni Esposito

Stage Manager Harry Dowling

Assistant Stage Manager Finn McLeish

by Ryan Henry

The MC Showroom, 2023

Director Kathryn Yates

Performer Ryan Henry

Producer Ryan Stewart

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Design Jack Burmeister

Photographed by Natalie Edge

by Rebecca Fingher

Theatre Works Explosives Factory, 2023

Director Rebecca Fingher

Performers Courtney Cavallaro, Emma Wright & Xanthe Blaise

Producer Cam Appleby

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Bexx

Stage Manager Arky Ryall

Publisist Breanna Boyd

Choreography Samantha Hortin

Photography by Sarah Clarke

by Caryl Churchill

fortyfive downstairs, 2023

Director Cassandra Fumi

Cast Alison Whyte, Lucy Ansell and Darcy Kent, with Darcy Sterling-Cox and Noray Hosny

Designer Dann Barber

Lighting Designer Rachel Burke

Composer and Sound Designer Rachel Lewindon

Assistant Director Kuda Mapeza

Associate Designer Savanna Wegman

Associate Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Stage Manager Georgie Bright

Assistant Stage Manager Finn McLeish

Producers Ben Walter and Thalia Dudek

Photographed by Cameron Grant

by Tom Basden

fortyfivedownstairs, 2023

Director Cassandra Fumi

Cast James Cerche, Joey Lai, Cait Spiker, and Jessica Stanley

Set & Costume Design Dann Barber

Costume Supervisor & Maker Alexandra Aldrich

Design Associate Savanna Wegman

Sound Designer Gabriel Bethune

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Associate Lighting Designer Natalya Shield

Stage Manager Luci Watts

Assistant Stage Manager Finn McLeish

Photographed by Jack Dixon-Gunn

by Anthony Crowley

Helen MacPherson Smith Theatre, 2023

Director Anthony Crowley

Music Director Daniel Tusjak

Choreographer Eliza Grundy

Set Designer Joe Noonan

Costume Designer Adrienne Chisholm

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Production Managers Kate Culbertson & Gus Powers

Stage Manager Samantha Stewart

Head Technician Shan McPhee

Photographed by Jodie Hutchinson

by Liam Borrett

Meat Market Stables, 2022

Director/Producer Gavin Roach

Performers Emerson Hansford & Damian Okulic

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Sam Porter

Stage Manager Andrew Hughes

Photographed by Cameron Grant

by Thomas Eccleshare

Meat Market Stables, 2022

Director/Producer Gavin Roach

Performers Michelle Perera and Kristina Benton

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Sam Porter

Stage Manager Andrew Hughes

Photographed by Cameron Grant

by Edna Walsh

Meat Market Stables, 2022

Director/Producer Gavin Roach

Performers Antoinette Davis & Jonathon Shilling

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Danni Esposito

Stage Manager Andrew Hughes

Photographed by Cameron Grant

The National Theatre Melbourne, 2022

Presented by Lehenda Ukranian Dance Company

Director/Choreographer Melanie Moravski

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Designer Stephan Moravski

Photographed by Oleg Deshin

La Mama Courthouse, 2022

Devisers & performers David Baker, Clarisse Bonello & Ben Jamieson

Deviser & Director Milly Cooper

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Composer & Sound Designer Samuel Kreusler & Rachel Lewindon

AV designer James Paul

Operator Chris Martin

Dramaturge Harlow Carey

Photographed by Darren Gill

Theatre Works, 2022

Director Steven Mitchell Wright

Writing Contributions Chris Beckey, Steven Mitchell Wright & Ian Johnson

Cast Paolo Bartolomei, Emily Joy, Willow Sizer

Video Artist Chris Bennett, Underground Media

Designer Hahnie Goldfinch

Lighting Designer Ben Hughes

Sound Composition Rachel Lewindon

Stage & Production Manger Holly Anderson

Assistant Director Belle Hansen

Lighting Design Associate Spencer Herd

Additional Track Production Imogen Cygler

Design Intern Kiara Martin

Assistant Stage Managers Brigette Jennings, Sarah Falzon & Jemma Law

Producer Theatre Works

Photographed by Underground Media

by Rebecca Fingher

The Blue Room Theatre, 2022

Director Sian Murphy

Performers Hannah Davidson, Tegan Mulvany, Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Elisa Williams and Isaac Diamond

Stage Manager Sophia Morgan

Sound Composer Jacob Sgouros

Sound Designer David Stewart

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Set Designer William Gammel

Marketing & Publicity Kailyn Crabbe

Producer Samantha Hortin

Photographed by Sophie Minissale

by Tatty Hennessy

Theatre Works Explosives Factory 2022

Director Gavin Roach

Performer Eddie Pattison

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Connor Ross

Stage Manager Andrew Hughes

Photographed by Cameron Grant

Gasworks Arts Park, February 2022

Director/Producer Gavin Roach

Writer Stephen Laughton

Performer Ben Stuart

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Connor Ross

Photographed by Cameron Grant

La Mama HQ, February 2022

Co-devisors and Performers Milly Cooper & Ben Jamieson

Composers Rachel Lewindon & Samuel Kreusler

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Access Consultation Sarah Houbolt

Photographed by Darren Gill

Theatre Works, December 2021

Written & Created by Debra Thomas & Ella Roth Barton

Director Kellie Tori

Performers Ella Roth Barton, Debra Thomas, Emily Joy, Joseph Lai, Andrea Mendez, Lauren Steiner

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer James Cole

Stage Manager Lauren Thuys

Set Designer Kelly Tori

Costume Designers Ella Roth Barton & Debra Thomas

Photographed by Luke Lennox

by Willy Hudson

The Butterfly Club, April 2021

Director/Producer Gavin Roach

Performer Ryan Stewart

Lighting Designer/Stage Manager Spencer Herd

Set Designer Helen Rofe



Photography by Cameron Grant

by Rebecca Fingher

State Theatre Centre of WA, January 2021

Director/Producer Mitch Whelan

Performers Anna Lindstedt, Courts Cava and Rebecca Fingher

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Bec Price

Movement Direction Samantha Hortin

Photography by Samuel Bruce

The Blue Room Theatre, February 2020

Director/Co Producer Mitch Whelan

Co Producer Erin Lockyer

Lead Creative/Performer Hannah Davidson

Lighting Designer/Stage Manager Spencer Herd

Sound Designer Clancy Davidson

Collaborators/Performers Lindsay McDonald, Louis Spencer, Sian Murphy, Tristan McInnes

by Chris Edwards

Theatre Works, January 2020

Director Riley Spadaro

Set & Costume Designer Grace Deacon

Lighting Designer Phoebe Pilcher

Associate Lighting Designer/Production Stage Manager Spencer Herd

Photography by Morgan Moroney

by Stephen Sondheim

Geoff Gibbs Theatre, August 2018

Director Tyran Parke

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Set Designer Maeli Cheryl

Costume Designer Georgia Manning

Musical Director David King

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Photographed by Georgia Manning & Jon Green

Connections Nightclub, September - November 2020

Director & Choreographer Barbie Q

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Performers Barbie Q, Alexas Armstrong, Scarlet Adams, Veronica Jean Jones, Fay Rocious, Ruby Jewelz, Sassie Cassie & Freddy Be Perfect

Photographed by Nunnzie

Garvey Park, November 2018, November 2019

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Console Programmer/Operator Amelia Baker

City of Belmont

Watch the city come alive and burst with colour, light and sound. This spectacle brings together modern technologies to indulge the senses and create an illumination like no other. The Centre of the City will host an array of light, illuminative and interactive installations to keep everyone amused.

Regal Theatre, June 2018

Director Jason Langley

Set Designer Tyler Hill

Costume Designer Eilish Campbell

Lighting Designer Trudy Dalgleish

Associate Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Musical Director David King

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Photographed by Stephen Heath

Round House Theatre, November 2018

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

“Prior Engagement” performed by Feels

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts

The third year lighting students were tasked with creating a Son et Lumiére to a song of their choice.

Stow Theatre, June 2019

Director Julia Jarel

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Set Designer Timothy Leaning

Costume Designer Holly Barker

Photographed by Deprimo Photography

Ronstone Park, March 2018

Lighting Designer Spencer Herd

Performed by Latin, Funk & Contemporary Students

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts

City of Stirling

Photographed by Stephen Heath