Roger Barratt

Roger Barrett

Roger Barratt was an extraordinary man. He came to the Pocket Playhouse in 1966. He was 17 years of age and had just left school. He said “I want to learn about lighting”. He learnt quickly—and the extraordinary man he was never forgot where he made his start in theatre lighting. He was always there when a special effect was needed.

In 1966 he designed the lighting for “Five Finger Exercise” and “Blithe Spirit”. In 1967 “Our Town” and “The Business of Good Government” performed by the Pocket Playhouse in St Brigid’s Church, Marrickville were added to his list of achievements. His lighting of the arrival of the arch angel Gabriel in a pool of shimmering gold light was memorable. He made a special colour wheel for the finale of “The Limelighters” in 1970 and simulated blood running under a door in “Heloise” (1971).

1968 was a vintage year for Roger at the Pocket. He was the recipient of a prestigious Pocket Award for Lighting Effects for “The Killing of Sister George”, “The Little Foxes” and “Exit the King”. In 1969 he designed the lighting for ‘The Came to a City” and was engaged by The Australian Opera for “Un Ballo in maschera”.

From that point during the next twenty odd years he became a top lighting designer and worked on over 300 productions and for every major management in Australia and “Sugar Babies” both in Australia and London with Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney.

Nothing was impossible in Roger’s world. It just took a little longer and patience to achieve. Even when Norman retired to Mudgee he kept in touch with him. Sadly, he died on June 13, 1995 following a courageous battle with leukaemia, aged 47 years.