Most children dream of becoming astronauts, footballers or doctors. I developed a slightly worrying interest in making very expensive lights flash. My parents were understandably concerned. In hindsight, heroin might have been cheaper.

Somehow, that turned into a career designing, programming and operating lighting for productions around the world. I'm now regularly responsible for equipment worth more than a reasonably nice house. Quite a leap from thinking a £20 disco light was the height of technological achievement.

Along the way, I've picked up extensive experience in QLab programming, AV and technical production. A key interest of mine is unconventional live productions, particularly those that push creative boundaries through innovative lighting, technology and visual effects.

There's a serious side to it, of course. I take pride in making even the most complicated productions look effortless. Ultimately, it's about creating something audiences will remember for years. Preferably for the right reasons.

Despite the long hours, ridiculous deadlines and occasional urge to throw a lighting console into the nearest skip, I wouldn't change a thing.

Well, perhaps the hours.

And the deadlines.

And whoever keeps unplugging things.