Omar Madkour
Lighting Designer
Photo by Yomna Osman. Art in the background by Sol LeWitt.
BIO
Born to a family of engineers in Cairo, Egypt, I developed a passion for movie directing. For this reason I studied stage acting, wrote a play for my undergrad thesis, and started a career as a Lighting Designer. Confused much? Well, it has been an interestingly twisted journey.
My designs in live performance have been presented in various countries, festivals and venues such as Pasadena Playhouse, REDCAT, and The Wallis Annenberg (Los Angeles); Maxim Gorki Theatre (Berlin); BoZar (Brussels); Shubbak Festival (London); Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (Cairo); UNAM (Mexico City) among others. Credits vary from classical theatre to new works and experimental performance. Selected credits include John C. Reilly’s original production of Mr. Romantic; Inherit The Wind directed by Michael Michetti; the West Coast premiere of Young-Jean Lee’s We’re Gonna Die; the workshop production of Black Like Me; Waiting for Godot produced by Kenoma Theatre; and La Princesa, a co-devised piece which won first prize in ArtChangeUS competition.
I currently also work as a Part-Time Lighting Designer at Radiance Lightworks where I have collaborated on multiple theme park projects. Previous lighting design experiences also include architectural and museum lighting.
My background in performing, directing and writing has shaped my design process, allowing it to stem from a dramaturgical approach rather than a solely aesthetic one.
ARTIST STATEMENT
In firm belief that live performance can play a vital role in challenging the socio-political doctrines established by our different institutions, I became interested in how abstraction can redefine our perception of anything preconceived. Presenting an “idea of something” or an abstract take on it, raises far more interesting questions than telling the story of it. Similarly, lights and visuals have a deeper philosophical function than complementing a conventional storytelling form. Lights and visuals are capable of creating an atmosphere and environment that influences our perception of the story; and hence provoking intricate thoughts within us.
AWARDS
International Theatermakers Award from The Playwright’s Realm (2021)
1st Runner Up for the Conceptual Entry of the IES LA, Lumen West Competition (2020).
ETC’s Fred Foster Mentorship Program at LDI (2019)
EDUCATION
MFA ‘20 - Lighting Design, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
BA ‘11 - Theatre, The American University in Cairo (AUC).
“You have to believe in yourself, that’s the secret. Even when I was in the orphanage, when I was roaming the street trying to find enough to eat, even then I thought of myself as the greatest actor in the world.”