'Be careful, and do not seek to know too much about us' - Sidhe


Niall is a freelance Irish scenographer and visual artist working in performance, film, painting and collage. 

Following a Foundation Degree in Art and Design, Niall went on to study Theatre Design at Wimbledon College of Art.  In 2018, Niall was awarded the Max Rayne Design residency at the National Theatre, where he was Associate Designer on Translations.  In 2022, he designed Northern Ireland Opera’s Into The Woods, which won the Irish Times Irish Theatre Award for ‘Best Production’. He was also nominated for ‘Best Set’. It subsequently travelled to West Australian Opera in Perth where the production was remounted with an Australian cast to critical acclaim. 

He recently made his West End debut, as Associate Set Designer on Waiting For Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket with designer Rae Smith, directed by James Macdonald.

Recent design credits include: The Tragedy of Richard III, (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Peter Pan (Gate Theatre Dublin), Tosca (Northern Ireland Opera at Grand Opera House Belfast), Under The Kundé Tree (Southwark Playhouse), The Dry House (Marylebone Theatre), Into The Woods (His Majesty’s Theatre Perth), This Beautiful Future (Jermyn Street Theatre)


Eugene Onegin came number 3 in Fiona Maddock's 'Top 10 best concerts and opera of 2024' in the Observer, as well as his work on The Tragedy of Richard III  appeared on The Stage's 'Top 50 Shows of 2024':

'An inspiringly brave, artistically daring version of Shakespeare’s dark history play, envisioned by the writing partnership of Oisín Kearney and Michael Patrick in the aftermath of the latter’s recent diagnosis of motor neurone disease. Fearlessly mirroring life with art – and sharing the role with another wheelchair user Zak Ford-Williams – Patrick defied his medical condition with his portrayal of a king whose unexpected experience of terminal disability propels him into dreadful deeds. Dry wit, bold physicality and surreal visual staging shored up a production that was as poignant as it was unflinching.'  


Upcoming:

- Oedipus (Old Vic) - Associate set designer. Directed by Matthew Warchus. 

- The Brightening Air (Old Vic) - Associate set designer. Directed by Conor McPherson  


Recent: 

- Eugene Onegin (Northern Ireland Opera, Grand Opera House Belfast) - Set Design. Directed by Cameron Menzies

- The Tragedy of Richard III (Lyric Theatre, Belfast) - Set and Costume design. Directed by Oisín Kearney

- Waiting For Godot (Theatre Royal Haymarket) - Associate Set Designer. Directed by James Macdonald. 


Awards / Nominations:

- 2024 Performing Arts WA Awards: Best Production. Into The Woods (nomination)

- 2022 Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards: Best Set. Into The Woods  (nomination)

- 2022 Irish Times Irish Theatre Award: Best Production. Into The Woods

- 2021 JMK Award winner: Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act, directed by Diane Page

- 2021 OFFIE AWARDS: Best Production. This Beautiful Future (nomination)

- 2019  Max Rayne Design residency award. National Theatre 


Associate / Assisting work: 

- Translations, (National Theatre) - Associate to Rae Smith 

- The Trials (Donmar), Missing Julie (Theatr Clwyd), Klippies (Young Vic), Dick Whittington (National Theatre) - Assistant to Georgia Lowe

- Peter Gynt, (National Theatre) - Assistant to Richard Hudson


Within his visual art practice, he is currently investigating folklore and urban mythic spaces as a way to dissect the conflicted and problematic attitudes towards cultural hijacking and identity within Northern Ireland. Who are we? Maybe it’s about time we had that conversation.


Using Format