Life

Weekend Q&A: Tosca lighting designer Ciaran Bagnall on hanging out with the kids, the influence of Mark Rothko, and pepperoni pizza with all the trimmings...

Ciaran Bagnall (45) is a noted set and lighting designer who is working on Northern Ireland Opera's September production of Tosca at the Grand Opera House in Belfast

Ciaran Bagnall
Ciaran Bagnall

How do you unwind at the weekend?

We have three young children – Emily, who's eight, Roisin who's five and Dylan who's two – so I'm not sure 'unwind' is the word. Weekends are a bit chaotic, but because of the nature of my work, I like to just hang out.

We might go to see my mother and brothers in Newry or go off on adventures. Orangefield Park is on our doorstep where we walk our dog, Martha, a six-month-old rescue black Lab/Border collie cross who has to get out and about. There's also a great children's playground.

What do you remember most about weekends growing up?

Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie

For me, it's certain mid-70s to early-80s TV programmes like Little House on The Prairie. It's the smell of my mother's cooking, the traditional Irish roast, meat and potatoes. I started out as an artist and studied the subject at Abbey Grammar School where my teacher, Mrs Burns, got how important it was to me.

Mark Rothko was a big influence and I did the lighting for Red, the play about the painter's life, in 2017 at the Lyric theatre. He was obsessed with the light angles in his studio, and we used quite harsh lighting in revealing his story.

Local schools did Irish language plays and a friend whose brothers were doing the physical lighting asked did I want to come along. I said yes, and realised how light could create atmosphere, emotion, the time of day.

Do you have a must-listen weekend radio programme or podcast?

Radio 2 or Radio Ulster and my wife Jen Shepherd has the Welsh station on. And the Irish Theatre podcast from Rise Productions which I tune into for the interviews with key figures.

Is there a must-watch TV programme or is it Netflix?

Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups
Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups

Read more:

Weekend Q&A: Screenwriter Christine Murphy 'I’m doing what I really love'

Weekend Q&A: Singer/songwriter Jackie Rainey


TV is dominated by Paw Patrol. But I'm a big fan of the series Abstract on art and design.

Is Sunday still special?

It is although we're not a practising religious family. But with my work schedule, it's nice to have a day to touch base and not use phones or email.

Do you have a favourite eatery or is it a takeaway?

Pizzas from Dominos. Emily's vegetarian so she has a Margherita, we have a pepperoni with all the trimmings.

NI Opera's Tosca is coming to the Grand Opera House next month
NI Opera's Tosca is coming to the Grand Opera House next month

How do you feel on Sunday night about Monday morning?

I tend to have a catch-up. We've started work on Tosca, which is exciting. Director Cameron Menzies has an interesting, filmic take. I'm a great fan of Puccini and we're looking at big lighting for the great chorus at the end of the first act.

For the famous scene at the end when Tosca throws herself off the castle, it will be more intimate, maybe close-up, dark and light.

:: NI Opera's Tosca runs on September 9, 12, 14, 16 at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. Book via goh.co.uk