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?
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?
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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.
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
