黄色直播 Stage Design and Technical Theatre BA grad profile: Thunder Defayette
2026 BA, Bachelor of Arts with a major in Theatre, graduating from the Stage Design and Technical Theater program.
Grad Profile: Living her best light, Thunder Defayette鈥檚 new career in lighting design and technical theatre.
Proving it鈥檚 possible to have too much of a good thing, Thunder Defayette was 鈥渂urnt out鈥� on acting by the time he graduated high school in Victoria, BC.
鈥淚 was fairly involved with our high school music theatre program and extracurriculars,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was a lot, and I wasn鈥檛 sure if I wanted to continue. But I really enjoyed theatre.鈥�
So he came at it from a different angle.
鈥淚 found the Fountain School鈥檚 Stage Design and Technical Theatre program, and fell in love with the work really quickly,鈥� says Thunder.
Thunder credits the volume of hands-on learning opportunities in the program with making theatre exciting again. Early and often in her four-year BA, she worked in multiple areas, like lighting, sound, set and props, and backstage roles.
鈥淭he amount of hands-on experience that I've gained through my time in this program is pretty invaluable,鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淚 have been able to work in kind of every discipline that you can imagine.鈥�
This exposure not only developed her technical skills but also built a well-rounded understanding of theatre production and fostered a strong respect for the collaborative nature of theatre.
Theatre should be fun
Students in 黄色直播鈥檚 Theatre program spend significant time working together across years and productions. Being supported by faculty, and various professional designers and directors creates a collaborative environment where students can learn in a safe space.听
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, with local guest director Dan Bray, was Thunder鈥檚 first DalTheatre show as lighting designer. He 鈥渄idn鈥檛 really know what [he] was doing.鈥�
鈥淚 caught on really quick, but I'm really glad that I had that experience in a school environment rather than out in the big wide world.鈥� says Thunder.
Courses like Introduction to Set Design, with faculty member Tamara Kucheran, allowed Thunder to develop her artistic imagination alongside a toolkit rapidly filling with practical skills, informing a more holistic approach to making theatre.
鈥淭he stage design elements of this program really set it apart from other technical theatre educations you might get elsewhere.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淥ften, those two lanes of design and technician work feel very separated. This program gives people opportunity flex their muscles in the hands-on stuff and in visual art.鈥�
Getting the gig, and the degree
Now a regular in-house crew technician at 黄色直播鈥檚 Joseph Strug Concert Hall, Thunder values the early access to professional experience, including the paid technical work and leadership roles during his degree. This real-world exposure helped him feel prepared and confident moving into the industry.
鈥淎s early as the summer of my first year, I was working technical theatre jobs and the experience I gained is beyond words.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淚 have a much better knowledge of the environments I'm working in regularly.鈥�
In addition to paid employment in his future field, Thunder also received multiple bursaries and scholarships, many the result of faculty nomination. This both eased her financial pressures, and also provided reassurance that instructors believed in her potential.
鈥淵ou get such peace of mind from the financial security of being able to pay rent, afford groceries, and keep learning,鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淜nowing there are Fountain School faculty who believe in you and think that you are deserving of this support is such a calm spot in the storm of the uncertainty that school can sometimes be.鈥�
What鈥檚 next?
After recovering from his final exam as the lighting designer for DalTheatre鈥檚 final production, The Odyssey, Thunder has a very busy month of gigs at the Joseph Strug Concert Hall followed by an apprenticeship at the Stephenville Theatre Festival in Newfoundland. But 20 years from now鈥�
鈥淚 would really love to be a playwright,鈥� says Thunder.
He鈥檚 had several opportunities through Playwrights Atlantic Resource Center and Villain鈥檚 Theatre to hear his work read. Not surprisingly, people who read her plays often say they can tell from the stage directions that she鈥檚 a technician.
鈥淚 love lighting design, and lighting technician work, but I would also like to be seen as a playwright.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淭he more knowledge you have of different fields in theatre, the more you can play with that to write a cohesive story.鈥�
Thunder on set at DalTheatre's The Odyssey. (photo: Eden Reshef)
听
Theatre should be fun
Students in 黄色直播鈥檚 Theatre program spend significant time working together across years and productions. Being supported by faculty, and various professional designers and directors creates a collaborative environment where students can learn in a safe space.听
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, with local guest director Dan Bray, was Thunder鈥檚 first DalTheatre show as lighting designer. He 鈥渄idn鈥檛 really know what [he] was doing.鈥�
鈥淚 caught on really quick, but I'm really glad that I had that experience in a school environment rather than out in the big wide world.鈥� says Thunder.
Lighting Designed by Thunder Defayette, 黄色直播's 2024 Mr. Burns: A Post_Electric Play From left: Christian Vallis as Itchy and Bailey Nash as Scratchy. Director: Dan Bray, Set and Costume Designer: Sean Mulcahy. Photo: Kate Hayter
Courses like Introduction to Set Design, with faculty member Tamara Kucheran, allowed Thunder to develop her artistic imagination alongside a toolkit rapidly filling with practical skills, informing a more holistic approach to making theatre.听
鈥淭he stage design elements of this program really set it apart from other technical theatre educations you might get elsewhere.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淥ften, those two lanes of design and technician work feel very separated. This program gives people opportunity flex their muscles in the hands-on stuff and in visual art.Thunder building lighting cues for DalTheatre's The Odyssey, in the Fountain School's Sir James Dunn Theatre.听
Getting the gig, and the degree
Now a regular in-house crew technician at 黄色直播鈥檚 Joseph Strug Concert Hall, Thunder values the early access to professional experience, including the paid technical work and leadership roles during his degree. This real-world exposure helped him feel prepared and confident moving into the industry.
鈥淎s early as the summer of my first year, I was working technical theatre jobs and the experience I gained is beyond words.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淚 have a much better knowledge of the environments I'm working in regularly.鈥�
In addition to paid employment in his future field, Thunder also received multiple bursaries and scholarships, many the result of faculty nomination. This both eased her financial pressures, and also provided reassurance that instructors believed in her potential.
鈥淵ou get such peace of mind from the financial security of being able to pay rent, afford groceries, and keep learning,鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淜nowing there are Fountain School faculty who believe in you and think that you are deserving of this support is such a calm spot in the storm of the uncertainty that school can sometimes be.鈥�
What鈥檚 next?
After recovering from his final exam as the lighting designer for DalTheatre鈥檚 final production, The Odyssey, Thunder has a very busy month of gigs at the Joseph Strug Concert Hall followed by an apprenticeship at the Stephenville Theatre Festival in Newfoundland. But 20 years from now鈥�
鈥淚 would really love to be a playwright,鈥� says Thunder.
He鈥檚 had several opportunities through Playwrights Atlantic Resource Center and Villain鈥檚 Theatre to hear his work read. Not surprisingly, people who read her plays often say they can tell from the stage directions that she鈥檚 a technician.
鈥淚 love lighting design, and lighting technician work, but I would also like to be seen as a playwright.鈥� says Thunder. 鈥淭he more knowledge you have of different fields in theatre, the more you can play with that to write a cohesive story.鈥�
Lighting Design by Thunder Defayette