The End of Longing Opens with White Light

	The End of Longing. Photo: Helen Maybanks and The Playhouse Theatre.

Opened on February 11 at The Playhouse Theatre in London's West End, The End of Longing marks the playwriting debut of Friends star Matthew Perry, who also takes on the lead role. The play is set in modern-day Los Angeles and follows the story of four people searching for meaning as they enter their forties. White Light was asked to provide the lighting for the production, according to the company "further establishing the company's position as the West End's leading lighting supplier."

The show lighting is by Lucy Carter, whose previous lighting design credits include Love and Money (The Old Vic), Blurred Lines (The National Theatre), and numerous credits with The Royal Ballet. She comments: "In order to create the lighting design for The End of Longing, I worked closely with the set designer Anna Fleischle. She was really inspired by the photography of Edward Hopper, who captures this notion of somebody looking from the outside in. Similarly, I am very interested in the work of Bill Henson and how his photography captures a sense of loneliness and isolation; two themes which are prevalent throughout the play."

Along with highlighting the themes, Carter's design had to be suited for the space within The Playhouse Theatre. She adds: "Compared to other West End stages, The Playhouse is quite an intimate space so there are a lot of tight lighting angles. Similarly, the play features a lot of moving parts so it was a case of getting that distance and space just right."

To create her perfect lighting rig, Carter utilized ETC Source 4 Series 2 Lustrs, Martin Professional MAC Tw1s, Philips Vari-Lite VL 1000s, ETC Revolutions, and an ETC Ion 2K console.

Carter comments: "It was fantastic being able to go to White Light, provide my specifications, and work with the team to compile exactly what I required. This was actually my first time using the ETC Series 2 Lustrs and they were absolutely ideal for what I needed, mixing and molding with the other tungsten units effortlessly."

Jedd Hamilton, White Light's hire manager, comments: "At White Light, we are committed to investing in the very latest lighting equipment. This is something we continue to do year on year, allowing designers such as Lucy to draw on a whole host of lighting technology and choose exactly what they feel will bring their design to life."

After the show's opening this evening, The End of Longing will run until May 14, 2016. It marks Perry's first West End performance since his debut in Sexual Perversity in Chicago at The Old Vic in 2003; a show which White Light also provided the lighting for.

Carter states: "This is the first time I have worked with White Light on such a big production and it was a really fantastic experience. Their equipment helped me achieve the exact design I wanted and it's a show I'm extremely proud of."