During his time within the Royal Opera House Construction Department, John worked across a wide range of opera and ballet productions, producing technical construction drawings and supporting the development of scenery for both new productions and revivals.
Working initially as an Assistant Construction Draughtsperson before progressing to Lead Construction Draughtsman, John collaborated closely with designers, production managers, workshop teams and other members of the technical department to translate scenic designs into accurate and practical construction information.
The role involved developing scenery from designers’ models and drawings, resolving construction methods and detailing scenic elements for manufacture within the Royal Opera House workshops. Projects ranged from individual props and smaller scenic components through to large architectural structures, moving scenery and complete stage environments.
Working within a repertory theatre environment also required careful consideration of how scenery would be assembled, handled, stored and operated, alongside the practical constraints of the stage, workshops and production schedule.
John’s time at the Royal Opera House provided a strong foundation in scenic construction, technical draughting and design development, with experience gained across numerous productions and a broad range of construction techniques and materials.
