Announcing the 2026 Scholarship recipient

The Scholarship Committee is delighted to announce that the 2026 recipient is Lighting Designer Spencer Herd.

Spencer is a multidisciplinary lighting designer and artist working across all forms of live performance including theatre, contemporary circus, cabaret, concerts and events. He is also a highly skilled visual artist who favours acrylic and pencil mediums.

Recent credits as lighting designer include: the 2025 Green Room Award nominated The Last Train to Madeline, SUGAR, Romeo & Julie by Gary Owen, and FAMOUS by the National Institute of Circus Arts.

Spencer has been associate lighting designer for Paul Jackson on Truth (Malthouse Theatre); with Rachel Burke on Rhinoceros (Spinning Plates Co), Far Away (Patalog Theatre), Wittenoom & Iphigenia in Splott (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); Katie Sfetkidis on Monolith (Joel Bray Dance), Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (Little Ones Theatre) and Homopentacostus (Malthouse Theatre); and Phoebe Pilcher on A Model Murder (Sydney Festival) and La Cage aux Folles (Playhouse ACM).

He seconded with Trent Suidgeest on Muriel’s Wedding the Musical for Global Creatures at Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne.

Spencer intends to travel to The United Kingdom to develop and expand his skills.