Shmem Geddes

Consultant

Shmem joined Theatreplan in 2024 as a consultant specialising in stage engineering, after 14 years working in automation in some of the world’s biggest venues and shows. Her experience of running shows and using systems from automation suppliers, means she has a deep understanding of the day-to-day experience of technical staff.

Prior to Theatreplan, Shmem was Technical Supervisor at the Royal Albert Hall, where the recent Olivier Awards proved to be a career highlight. This followed her role as Head of Automation and as part of the creative team for the multi award-winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in the west end of London.

Shmem graduated from Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a BA in Technical and Production Arts and subsequently garnered an impressive list of credits, including working for Cirque du Soleil as Head of Automation on the Echo and Kurios worldwide tours where, during her tenure, she was proud to be the only female head of automation in big-top touring. She was also Associate Pyrotechnician for Just FX London and Lighting Programmer for DesignLab events in Dubai. Shmem also worked for two years as Special Effects and Automation Technician at House of Dancing Water in Macau.

Shmem’s interest in theatre began as a young audience member, finding it an exciting environment where imagination and insight into a different world was possible. She was initially interested in set design but moved on to lighting and stage electrics, eventually focusing on pyrotechnics and lighting, then automation. She brings this wealth of hands-on experience to the talented stage engineering team at Theatreplan and has already started work on stage lift projects for Sydney Opera House and Royal Albert Hall.

Performance is everything

Grand Hall Battersea Arts Centre

Shaw Auditorium

Trafalgar Theatre

Sydney Opera House

Tara Theatre

Australian Chamber Orchestra

Pitlochry Festival Theatre

About Us

What We Do

Our Team

Our Partnerships

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, 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

For us, clients are the priority. We promise to deliver innovative, bespoke solutions with integrity and openness. Through our dedicated team of friendly, expert practitioners, we ensure projects are seen through to completion, with a pragmatic approach and a focus on cost awareness that focuses on high quality, safety, and usability.

Why Choose Theatreplan?

For 40 years, we’ve been creating amazing spaces across the globe that allow performances to flourish, at every scale, from international opera houses to local studio theatres.

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.

From feasibility and concept design, right through to construction and opening night, we’ll ensure the only performance you ever have to think about, is the one you put on.

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

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