Akhila Krishnan
Video & Projection Designer
Film, TV & Theatre
Film, TV & Theatre
Akhila is an award-winning designer, director of moving image and VR, and collaborator working at the forefront of moving image, technology and storytelling today. Originally trained in design and film for screen, Akhila’s interest in creating moving image for spatial and installation contexts with live performers led to her present work in the field of projection design.
Akhila trained at the Royal College of Art and the National Institute of Design, India. She was previously Senior Designer at 59 Productions, working with the company from 2012 to 2018.
Akhila Krishnan’s videos conjure a myriad of atmospheric seas and skies
The Stage on The Wreckers (Glyndebourne)
Akhila Krishnan’s video scrawls a chalk Union Jack across a wall, and during lockdown, the actors’ faces are crammed into the screen of a giant animated iPhone
The I on Our Generation (National Theatre)
There's a pop art, almost cartoon, element to Krishnan's designs with giant hearts, multicoloured targets and pulsating sunbeams
What's On Stage on What's New Pussycat (Birmingham Rep)
Derek McLane’s scenic design, which is greatly enhanced by projections designed by Akhila Krishnan — particularly the India scenes in Act Two — are visually stunning
The San Diego Union-Tribune on Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (The Old Globe, San Diego)
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2024 | Birmingham Rep | Video Designer |
2024 | Royal Shakespeare Company (Swan Theatre) | Video Designer |
2024 | Noel Coward Theatre/Playful Productions | Video Designer |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2024 | St Ann's Warehouse, New York | Video Designer |
2023 | Birmingham Rep | Video Designer |
2023 | Pittsburgh CLO | Video Designer |
2023 | National Theatre (Dorfman) | Video Designer |
2023 | Chichester Festival Theatre | Video Designer |
2022 | Young Vic (Main House) | Video Designer |
2022 | Old Globe, San Diego | Video Designer |
2022 | Young Vic (Main House) | Video Designer |
2022 | National Theatre (Dorfman)/Chichester Festival Theatre | Video Designer |
2021 | Birmingham Rep | Video Designer |
2021 | Hampstead Theatre | Video Designer |
2020 | Leeds Playhouse / Ramps on the Moon / UK Tour | Projection Designer |
2019 | Dance East/The Place | Production Designer |
2019 | Unicorn Theatre | Projection Designer |
THE DISPUTE 2014 | HiBrow Productions/Odeon Live Broadcast/Edinburgh Fringe | Video Designer |
BRITTEN CANTICLES: STILL FALLS THE RAIN 2013 | Brighton Festival/Aldeburgh | Assistant Video Designer and Researcher |
Opera
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2024 | Staatsoper Hannover | Video Designer |
2023 | English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera | Video Designer |
2022 | Vienna State Opera | Video Designer |
2022 | Glyndebourne Festival | Video Designer |
2022 | English National Opera | Video Designer |
2022 | Theatre O/Trinity Laban | Video Designer |
2021 | English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera | Video Designer |
2021 | Royal Opera House | Artist Commission |
2020 | Royal Opera House | Video Designer |
GARDEN MUSIC 2011 | Academy of St. Martins in the Fields | Visual Artist |
AGAIN THE ROOM WAS PLUNGED INTO SILENCE 2010 | Barbican Centre/MAP Project | Visual Artist in collaboration with Rachael Perrin |
2022 | Royal Opera House | Video Designer |
2024 | English National Opera | Revival Production |
Film
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2021 | Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Film Director & Editor |
2020 | Guildhall School of Music and Drama | Live Broadcast Director |
EARTH FROM SPACE 2015 | United Nations/59 Productions | Assistant Producer |
BROADCAST TITLE STINGS FOR OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY 2012 | International Olympic Committee/59 Productions | Art Director in collaboration with Molly Einchcomb |
Factual Entertainment
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
BAREFOOT ENRICHE 2019 | Barefoot College/Positive Negatives | Director & Designer |
TRANSFORM 2019 | Peace Research Institute/Positive Negatives | Director |
GRENFELL: OUR HOME 2018 | Channel 4/ Parable Productions/59 Productions | Lead Designer (for 59 Productions) |
STEVE REICH: CLAPPING MUSIC 2015 | Touchpress/London Sinfonietta | Senior Assistant Designer & DIT |
Other
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
POSTCARDS FROM OTHER WORLDS 2022 | Storyfutures Academy | Creative Lead |
2021 | Arthouse Jersey | Artist Commission |
2019 | O2 Arena | Associate Video Designer |
UP NEXT GALA 2019 | National Theatre | Video Designer |
MA VLAST 2018 | Czech Philharmonic | Senior Video Designer |
METROPOLITAN OPERA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 2017 | Metropolitan Opera/59 Productions | Associate Project Director |
BY ME: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2017 | Shakespeare 400/Somerset House | Creative Associate |
CHINA THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: MET BALL 2015 2015 | Vogue/Anna Wintour/59 Productions | Creative Associate |
GLOBAL GOALS LAUNCH 2015 | United Nations/59 Productions | Line Producer and Senior Assistant Designer |
HARMONIUM 2015 | Edinburgh International Festival (Opening Event)/59 Productions | Line Producer |
SHAKESPEARE: GREATEST LIVING PLAYWRIGHT 2014 | V&A Museum | Video Designer |
Associate Credits
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
SHADOW FACTORY 2018 | Nuffield Southampton Theatres | Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
BLOOM 2017 | Edinburgh International Festival | Senior Designer (for 59 Productions) |
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2017 | Dominion Theatre | Associate Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
SUKANYA 2017 | Royal Opera House/Curve Alchemy Festival (Southbank) | Lead Designer (for 59 Productions) |
LIGHT FALLS 2015 | World Science Festival | Senior Assistant Designer |
BRIGADOON 2017 | New York City Center | Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
MARNIE 2017 | English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera | Senior Designer (for 59 Productions) |
OSLO 2017 | National Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre | UK Associate Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
THE NUTCRACKER 2016 | Joffrey Ballet | Creative Associate (for 59 Productions) |
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2015 | Palace Theatre, New York | Senior Assistant Video Designer / Line Producer (for 59 Productions) |
DEEP TIME 2016 | Edinburgh International Festival | Creative Associate & Line Producer (for 59 Productions) |
BOEING CENTENARY EVENT 2016 | Boeing | Line Producer (for 59 Productions) |
IN THE GOLDEN HOUR: WHEELDON TRIPLE BILL 2016 | Royal Opera House | Creative Associate (for 59 Productions) |
SAY NO TO COAL 2015 | Oxfam | Senior Assistant Producer (for 59 Productions) |
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2016 | Royal Variety Show | Creative Associate (for 59 Productions) |
THE SHINING 2015 | Minnesota Opera | Creative Associate (for 59 Productions) |
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE 2015 | Liverpool Playhouse | Creative Associate (for 59 Productions) |
LIGHTING THE SAILS 2014 | Vivid Festival/Sydney Opera House | Senior Assistant Designer & Line Producer (for 59 Productions) |
GREAT BRITAIN 2014 | National Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre | Senior Assistant Video Designer / Producer, Live Action Shoot (for 59 Productions) |
THE DISPUTE 2014 | Edinburgh Fringe/Odeon Live Broadcast/HiBrow Productions | Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
DIGITAL REVOLUTION 2014 | Barbican | Line Producer (for 59 Productions) |
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2014 | Chatelet Theatre, Paris | Senior Assistant Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
TWO BOYS 2013 | English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera | Senior Assistant Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
PERFECT AMERICAN 2013 | Teatro Real, Madrid/English National Opera | Assistant Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
INTRODUCING THE BAROQUE 2013 | Historic Royal Palaces | Assistant Designer (for 59 Productions) |
NIGHT TRAIN 2013 | Schauspiel Köln | Assistant Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
EMIL & THE DETECTIVES 2013 | National Theatre | Senior Assistant Video Designer (for 59 Productions) |
ISLES OF WONDER (OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY) 2012 | Danny Boyle/IOC | Assistant Designer (for 59 Productions) |