LAMDA Announces Young Lighting and Sound Designer Awards
Announcing the LAMDA Young Lighting and Sound Designer of the Year Awards, launching in September 2026.
Whether building tension, pulling on the heartstrings or electrifying the stage, lighting and sound is integral to every single production. It all begins with the work of talented young designers making their mark and learning their trade in school productions.
We’re thrilled to announce two brand-new awards celebrating these exceptional young creatives. Comprising two age categories and open to secondary school students across the UK, the LAMDA Young Lighting and Sound Designer of the Year Awards will recognise the talent, artistry and potential of future backstage stars.
Two awards will be presented for lighting and sound design respectively, with a winner honoured in two age categories: for 14-15-year-olds, and 16-18-year-olds. Students will be invited to show us their passion, creativity and vision for enhancing a performance using either lighting or sound design – either telling us about their work on a real school production or using their imagination and innovation to design what they would do if given the chance.
Further details on the awards will be announced in September 2026, including eligibility specifics, submission criteria and the judging panel, ahead of completed submissions being accepted from June 2027. Entries will be open for work produced in the 2026/27 academic year.
The judging panel will assess each submission’s creativity and innovation, the relevance of the design to the story and its impact on storytelling, and the use of clear and appropriate reasoning and rational.
As well as a winner in each category, additional recognition will be made for submissions that are considered highly commendable. The awards will conclude with a glittering award ceremony held at LAMDA in London in Autumn 2027, our opportunity to celebrate all the brilliant work submitted.
Backstage training is fundamental at LAMDA, with our BA (Hons) Production and Technical Arts programme the oldest technical programme of its kind in the UK. At its heart, the course values learning through hands-on vocational training and develops versatile skills that graduates use across theatre productions, TV and film sets, live events and beyond.
Every concert, every stage and every set relies on talented and resourceful individuals working behind the scenes. We’re proud to launch an award that recognises these roles and to continue supporting the creative pipeline of backstage talent for the future.
Keep an eye out for more information coming in September 2026. If you’re a teacher, parent/guardian or family member who knows a student that would relish the challenge, sign up to the LAMDA Newsletter to be the first to hear more:
