Based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel, The Lightning Thief features an original score by Rob Rokicki and a book by Be More Chill’s Joe Tracz. Having first premiered Off-Broadway in 2014, the musical now finds its London home at The Other Palace.
The story follows Percy Jackson, a teenager from New York City who discovers he’s the half-blood son of Poseidon, and subsequently sets out on a quest to prevent a war amongst the gods. For this dynamic production, Lighting Designer Charlie Morgan Jones was brought on board to deliver a lighting design that could match the scale and energy of the story. Charlie turned to White Light, a d&b solutions company, to provide the full lighting rig.
The lighting design was shaped not only by the story’s sweeping narrative but also by the show’s unique set – a minimal space shifting between real-world locations and mythical landscapes. Working in close collaboration with Designer Ryan Dawson Laight, Charlie was tasked with crafting distinct worlds, all within the confines of a single, and flexible stage design.
“Creating worlds with lighting is a joy,” Charlie explains. “I tend to work instinctively, letting the music guide the emotional tone and colour palette. With The Lightning Thief, there’s a real sense of drive and fun in the score, so the lighting needed to be vibrant, bold, and full of energy.”
Charlie worked hand-in-hand with the creative team including Musical Director Ben McQuigg to ensure the lighting echoed the rhythm and emotional beats of each scene, and hitting each beat perfectly night after night is the astonishing DSM Vicky Zenetzi. The result of great collaboration was a rich, colourful design that received critical praise. As Theo Bosanquet noted in his WhatsOnStage review: “It’s all augmented by some high-octane lighting from Charlie Morgan Jones, particularly in the climactic underworld scenes.”
Charlie received continual feedback during previews and regularly revisits the show post-opening to refine key moments further – a reflection of his commitment to evolving the design in response to the production’s needs.
Staged at The Other Palace, an intimate 300-seat venue near London Victoria, the production posed a number of spatial and technical challenges. The thrust stage configuration meant that lighting positions were limited and that audience members were often within the lit space. Faced with these constraints, Charlie approached the rig with creativity, making considered fixture choices and working closely with White Light to source the ideal equipment. The aim was to create texture, contrast, and atmosphere while working within a compact footprint.
The rig included:
Although this was a substantial number of fixtures for the size of the venue, each played a specific role in building the layered, dynamic look of the show. Charlie comments: “Our beautiful show is a really big show in a very little space!”
Charlie then reflects on his long-standing relationship with White Light: “I’ve worked with WL for over 15 years, and the support is always exceptional. The team genuinely cares about the shows they work on – which I think is quite rare and very special.”
The lighting design was widely praised, with enthusiastic responses across social media and theatre discussion boards. Many audience members specifically referenced the lighting as a highlight of their experience.
Charlie shares: “There’s something really special about being the first person to light a new production. It’s been incredibly exciting, and will forever be a career highlight to have been the original lighting designer on Percy Jackson in the UK.”
The production’s cult following added another layer to the experience, with fans dressing as their favourite characters and attending multiple performances – a testament not only to the show’s popularity but to the strength of its production values, including its lighting design.
Photography by Manuel Harlan
Lighting Team
Lighting Designer - Charlie Morgan Jones
Associate LD & Programmer - George Bach
Production Electrician - Andrew Blumsum
Press:
“...high octane lighting from Charlie Morgan Jones...”
— THEO BOSANQUET, WHATSONSTAGE
“Charlie Morgan Jones’s vibrant lighting design...”
— OLIVIA MITCHELL, REWRITE THIS STORY
“...exquisite lighting design from Charlie Morgan Jones...”
— DAZ GALE, ALL THAT DAZZLES
“...enhanced by Charlie Morgan Jones’ dramatic lighting.”
— THEATRE AND TONIC