Chris Pye

Senior Associate

Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Chris Pye is a seasoned project leader, production manager, and lighting designer with a varied experience of touring, production and corporate work. Chris first started working in events at sixteen when a new multi-use performing arts centre, The Mick Jagger Centre, opened in his home town. After a short apprenticeship with the BBC, Chris graduated from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in Theatre Practice.

Soon after graduating Chris went on to work at The National Theatre as a lighting technician and developed his knowledge of lighting control. Subsequently, Chris moved to The Royal Opera House working to replace the lighting control system, with over 320 shows in rep.

In 2010, Chris relocated to Muscat, Oman to be part of the team to open the new Royal Opera House Muscat. Four years later, he moved to Abu Dhabi to be the Director of Production at the brand new, public facing, arts centre at New York University Abu Dhabi, following consulting on, and implementing, a multi-million dollar project to retrofit the lighting, stage and AV systems. The centre comprises three theatres, an outdoor stage, film screening room and rehearsal rooms. Chris manages the technical operations and oversees the technical team running productions from a mix of visiting companies, student work and external rentals. He also provides support for local schools and regional government theatres with advice on improvements to their venues and training of Emirati technicians.

Whilst in the MENA region, Chris has also worked as a system programmer on Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas WaterWorld, Abu Dhabi and Motiongate at Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Qualifications
BA (Hons) Theatre Practice

Theatreplan is a specialist technical design consultancy, helping to create amazing spaces for performance, around the world.

What We Do

What We Do
We provide the complete range of venue and auditorium planning, and technical design services, including lighting, sound, stage engineering,
AV, digital and communications. We cover all stages of a project, from feasibility and concept design, right through to construction and opening night.

We help design new spaces for performance, wherever live or digital content is shown and created, from concert halls and school theatres, to cinemas and motion capture studios. We also help refurbish historic theatres, and work with some of the world’s largest and most complex performance venues to upgrade their technical facilities.

Our Approach
Your vision, for your performance space, provides the focus for our work. We will closely collaborate with you, and other specialists when working as part of a design team, so we understand what you really need from your space. We will be honest with you about what we think is achievable and the best ways to go about delivering your vision. We will suggest new ideas that may not have been considered before and discuss these ideas with you to ensure they meet your requirements.

Why Choose Theatreplan?
For over 35 years we have designed award winning performing arts venues, and re-imagined existing spaces, for clients around the world. Our specialist venue planners and auditorium designers help create beautiful, bespoke performance spaces, while our stage engineers, lighting, sound, AV and communications consultants, can provide cutting edge technical infrastructure design, having gained their knowledge and expertise through years of experience working in theatres.

We understand practitioners, and what creatives, directors, performers, and technicians need to make their performances thrill, excite and move audiences, with dynamic, flexible spaces that cater for the many and varied requirements for performance today.

We know what audiences want from a venue and how to make that a reality

We always factor in the needs of operators to ensure venues are sustainable for the future.

And we prioritise environmental sustainability throughout every stage of a project, to bring innovative solutions that support sustainable development.

We have an absolute commitment to ensuring client satisfaction and an engaging, fun, and genuinely collaborative approach to the creative process.

We can’t wait to hear about your project. Call us on +44 (0) 20 7841 0440 or get in touch via email: info@theatreplan.com

Dave Ludlam, Mathew Smethurst-Evans, Michael Atkinson

I'm delighted that we will be drawing on the expertise of Theatreplan to enable us to deliver our vision for a redeveloped Citizens Theatre

Dominic Hill

Artistic Director, Citizens Theatre

Your efforts bring us such joy as we work in the theatre — the space is much more than I imagined

Jatinder Verma

Artistic Director, Tara Arts

Operaen Copenhagen...is truly a magnificent performing arts building and its intricate but highly functional design is a great testament to your expertise. They are so lucky to have such well-planned and generous technical and plant spaces

Richard Stuart

Former Technical Director, Sydney Opera House

The Belfast Lyric is the finest new theatre in the world

Simon Callow

Actor

Theatreplan have been an integral part of the project team, providing upfront strategic advice and concepts, design and support through the delivery and commissioning phases, clear and insightful advice, high quality design solutions, and collaborative support. I have no hesitation in recommending Theatreplan for other projects, particularly where there is a need to manage complexity and achieve a high-quality outcome.

Ian Cashen

Executive Director, Building, Safety & Security Sydney Opera House

Chris Pye

Senior Associate

Performance is everything

About Us

Theatreplan is a specialist technical design consultancy, helping to create amazing spaces for performance, around the world.

What We Do

Our Team

Our Partnerships