Benno Barends

Benno Barends creates inspiring lighting designs for musicals, music theater, plays, dance, exhibitions and architecture. His approach to lighting design goes beyond technique; he is a storyteller who adds a deeper layer to the performance through a thoughtful lighting concept. 

Since graduating in 2009 from the Media College’s Stage and Event Technology program, he has worked on dozens of productions and collaborated with major names such as De Graaf & Cornelissen, Opus One, MusicalMakers, Marina Abramovic, Balenciaga, Dior, and Alex Klaassen. In 2017, he obtained his degree from the Lighting Design Academy, and in 2023, he received a grant from the prestigious Henk van der Geest Lighting Design Fund to research the conceptual process of design, further honing his skills.