Akhila Krishnan

Video & Projection Designer

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Film, TV & Theatre

Agent: Dan Usztan

Dan Usztan

DUsztan@unitedagents.co.uk

Assistant: Phoebe O'Donnell

PODonnell@unitedagents.co.uk

Film, TV & Theatre

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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 at the Royal College of Art and the National Institute of Design in India, 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.

truly beautiful video projections from Akhila Krishnan, which vary from a whimsical Parisian skyline to fields of mustard seed in Mumbai
The Stage on Come Fall in Love: The DDLJ Musical (Manchester Opera House)

Akhila Krishnan’s epic video design
WhatsOnStage on Hamlet (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Akhila Krishnan’s videos conjure a myriad of atmospheric seas and skies
The Stage on The Wreckers (Glyndebourne)

In Development

Production	Company	Notes
THE BFG 2025	Royal Shakespeare Company (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)/Chichester Festival Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Daniel Evans
HAMLET 2026	Royal Shakespeare Company (UK Tour)	Video Designer Dir. Rupert Goold
GRACE PERVADES 2026	Theatre Royal Haymarket	Video Designer Dir. Jeremy Herrin
THE TEMPEST 2026	Royal Shakespeare Company (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)	Video Designer Dir. Richard Eyre

Theatre

Production	Company	Notes
KYOTO 2025	Lincoln Center	Video Designer Dir. Stephen Daldry & Justin Martin
GRACE PERVADES 2025	Theatre Royal Bath	Video Designer Dir. Jeremy Herrin
COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL 2025	Manchester Opera House	Video Designer Dir. Aditya Chopra
SHANGHAI DOLLS 2025	Kiln Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Katie Posner
HAMLET 2025	Royal Shakespeare Company (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)	Video Designer Dir. Rupert Goold
KYOTO 2025	@sohoplace/Royal Shakespeare Company (Swan Theatre)	Video Designer Dir. Stephen Daldry & Justin Martin Nominated for Olivier Award for Best New Play Nominated for WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play
DR STRANGELOVE 2024	Noel Coward Theatre/Playful Productions	Video Designer Dir. Sean Foley
WITHNAIL AND I 2024	Birmingham Rep	Video Designer Dir. Sean Foley
GRENFELL: IN THE WORDS OF SURVIVORS 2024	St Ann's Warehouse, New York	Video Designer Dir. Phyllida Lloyd & Anthony Simpson-Pike Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience
SINATRA 2023	Birmingham Rep	Video Designer Dir. Kathleen Marshall
NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 2023	Pittsburgh CLO	Video Designer Dir. Dontee Kiehn
GRENFELL: IN THE WORDS OF SURVIVORS 2023	National Theatre (Dorfman)	Video Designer Dir. Phyllida Lloyd & Anthony Simpson-Pike
ASSASSINS 2023	Chichester Festival Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Polly Findlay
MANDELA 2022	Young Vic (Main House)	Video Designer Dir. Schele Williams
COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL 2022	Old Globe, San Diego	Video Designer Dir. Aditya Chopra
CHASING HARES 2022	Young Vic (Main House)	Video Designer Dir. Milli Bhatia
OUR GENERATION 2022	National Theatre (Dorfman)/Chichester Festival Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Daniel Evans
WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? 2021	Birmingham Rep	Video Designer Dir. Luke Sheppard Nominated for WhatsOnStage Award for Best Video Design Nominated for BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Video Design of a New Production of a Play or Musical
THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY 2021	Hampstead Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Sam Yates
OLIVER TWIST 2020	Leeds Playhouse / Ramps on the Moon / UK Tour	Projection Designer Dir. Amy Leach
WHILE YOU ARE HERE 2019	Dance East/The Place	Production Designer Dir. Lily McLeish
MAGGOT MOON 2019	Unicorn Theatre	Projection Designer Dir. Jesse Jones
THE DISPUTE 2014	HiBrow Productions/Odeon Live Broadcast/Edinburgh Fringe	Video Designer Dir. Emily Kempson
BRITTEN CANTICLES: STILL FALLS THE RAIN 2013	Brighton Festival/Aldeburgh	Assistant Video Designer and Researcher Dir. Neil Bartlett

Opera

Production	Company	Notes
JOCASTA'S LINE 2025	Den Norsk Opera & Ballet	Video Design Dir. Wayne McGregor
O FLOWER OF FIRE 2024	Staatsoper Hannover	Video Designer Composed by Hannah Kendall
THE HANDMAID'S TALE 2024	English National Opera	Revival Production Video Designer Dir. Annilese Miskimmon
THE RHINEGOLD 2023	English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera	Video Designer Dir. Richard Jones Sky Arts Award for Opera Nominated for Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production
SAMSON ET DALILA 2022	Royal Opera House	Video Designer Dir. Richard Jones
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG 2022	Vienna State Opera	Video Designer Dir. Keith Warner
THE WRECKERS 2022	Glyndebourne Festival	Video Designer Dir. Melly Still Nominated for 2022 International Opera Award for Best Rediscovered Work
THE HANDMAID'S TALE 2022	English National Opera	Video Designer Dir. Annilese Miskimmon Best Classical / Opera Production, BroadwayWorld UK Awards 2022 International Opera Awards nominated
SYLLABLE 2022	Theatre O/Trinity Laban	Video Designer Dir. Joseph Alford 2022 Ivor Novello Awards nominated
THE VALKYRIE 2021	English National Opera/Metropolitan Opera	Video Designer Dir. Richard Jones
8BIT 2021	Royal Opera House	Artist Commission Digital Opera Series
THE KNIFE OF DAWN 2020	Royal Opera House	Video Designer Dir. Ola Ince
GARDEN MUSIC 2011	Academy of St. Martins in the Fields	Visual Artist Dir. Jan Hendrickse
AGAIN THE ROOM WAS PLUNGED INTO SILENCE 2010	Barbican Centre/MAP Project	Visual Artist in collaboration with Rachael Perrin

Film

Production	Company	Notes
LIFESONGS 2021	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	Film Director & Editor
POD 2020	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	Live Broadcast Director Dir. Jamie Bradley & Vicki Igbokwe
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 5 Animated Films
TRANSFORM 2019	Peace Research Institute/Positive Negatives	Director
GRENFELL: OUR HOME 2018	Channel 4/ Parable Productions/59 Productions	Lead Designer (for 59 Productions) Winner, 2018 Audience Award Alternate Realities at Sheffield Doc Fest Winner, 2018 Best Documentary, Raindance Immersive (VR) Stories at Raindance Festival Nominated, 2018 British Award for Best UK Experience at Raindance Festival
STEVE REICH: CLAPPING MUSIC 2015	Touchpress/London Sinfonietta	Senior Assistant Designer & DIT

Other

Production	Company	Notes
THE SOUND OF COLOUR: ARRIVALS 2024	ArtHouse Jersey	Artist Commission
POSTCARDS FROM OTHER WORLDS 2022	Storyfutures Academy	Creative Lead R&D for AR App
SOUND OF COLOUR 2021	ArtHouse Jersey	Artist Commission
MAMMA MIA: THE PARTY 2019	O2 Arena	Associate Video Designer
UP NEXT GALA 2019	National Theatre	Video Designer Dir. Rufus Norris
MA VLAST 2018	Czech Philharmonic	Senior Video Designer Dir. Richard Slaney
METROPOLITAN OPERA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 2017	Metropolitan Opera/59 Productions	Associate Project Director Dir. Julian Crouch
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 Dir. Richard Curtis
HARMONIUM 2015	Edinburgh International Festival (Opening Event)/59 Productions	Line Producer Dir. Richard Slaney
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) Nominated for UK Theatre Award for Best Design
BLOOM 2017	Edinburgh International Festival	Senior Designer (for 59 Productions)
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2017	Dominion Theatre	Associate Video Designer (for 59 Productions) Olivier Award for Best Design
SUKANYA 2017	Royal Opera House/Curve Alchemy Festival (Southbank)	Lead Designer (for 59 Productions)
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 2016	Royal Variety Show	Creative Associate (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)
LIGHT FALLS 2015	World Science Festival	Senior Assistant Designer
SAY NO TO COAL 2015	Oxfam	Senior Assistant Producer (for 59 Productions)
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 2015	Palace Theatre, New York	Senior Assistant Video Designer / Line Producer (for 59 Productions) Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical
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)