David I Taylor - In Memoriam
January 20, 2011
Theatre consultant and lighting designer David Taylor, a friend and dear colleague, passed away on Sunday, January 16, at the tragically early age of 48.
We shared many thrilling times together, and, as consultants, many arduous travels too. His passion for theatre and music made him a brilliant theatre consultant. His fierce loyalty to the arts, and to his clients, made him a ferocious fighter in the battle for better theatres around the world.
His enthusiasm, expertise, and total commitment endeared him to his clients and their users, to architects and other consultants, as well as to contractors and suppliers. His always-boyish excitement inspired many around him.
David was a passionate man. He adored lighting design, theatre and life. We worked together at Theatre Projects for over twenty years. In 1993 he came, with his wonderful wife Sara, to join me in America.
Lighting design remained a central passion to David. This was exemplified by his on-going work for Nicholas Kent at London's Tricycle Theatre that was seen most recently on tour in the US and in New York with The Great Game: Afghanistan.
He was a pivotal member of the Theatre Projects team from 1985 to 2006, first in the UK, and then playing a major role in our pioneering work across America, becoming a member of the board of directors. Among his many projects were the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York, the Chicago Shakespeare and Goodman Theaters in Chicago, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, the Benaroya Concert Hall in Seattle, and the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. He was especially proud of his contribution to the Kodak Theatre and how on Oscar night, the theatre is seen by more people than perhaps have ever visited a theatre before in human history.
He attended the University of London where he earned a First Class Honors degree in Drama and Scenography. He also studied at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on a theatre research scholarship. He had lighting and scenery credits for more than 100 productions in the UK and worldwide. He was a member of the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD), the Society of Theatre Consultants (STC), and a member of ISPA, ABTT and USITT. David was a member of the Governing Body of the Entertainment Services & Technology Association (ESTA). He was also a frequent contributor to theatre technology magazines in the UK and US.
Our paths had parted with his move from Theatre Projects to head Arup Theatre Consulting, but I remained a great admirer.
Finally, we shared a great love for the Scottish Hebridean Islands, where we were both blessed with summer hideaway retreats from the helter-skelter world of theatre.
I, like so many of his colleagues and friends, am devastated. David and I had many memories together. Tough challenges, happily mixed with good times, and many triumphs. Throughout our roller-coaster consulting life, his was the cheerful, affirmative, determinedly optimistic spirit. He will be long missed.
Our deepest love and sympathy go to Sara, and their two boys, of whom he was so very proud, Oliver and Sebastian.
Thursday, January 20, 2011