Wesley Babcock (they/them) is a theatre creator working in design, technical direction, and devised practices.
I am a queer set and lighting designer who splits time between Kjipuktuk (Halifax, NS) and Tkaronto (Toronto, ON), where my practice spans creating immersive theatrical installations, film, and live concerts. Before the pandemic, I was actively engaged in developing new work and new voices in Toronto through Dark Day Monday; a platform for genre-pushing work prioritizing queer artists and artists of colour. I am a founding member of whatbywhen (WxW) where, with Crystal Lee, we build models for sustainable production management and technical direction, building industry capacity through training and supporting emerging PMs and TDs.
I am a creator in every sense, having worked as a writer, director, creator, dramaturge, performer, designer, and technical director on projects large and small on my way to focussing my career on theatre design. As a designer, I work closely and collaboratively with creative teams to conceive and implement high-calibre, concept-forward designs. My design work has a dramaturgical focus, rooting itself in the text (whatever that means to a given process), and supporting it through clear documentation and drawing.
I have three times been nominated for the Theatre Nova Scotia Merritt Award for Scenic Design, and was the recipient of the Wes Daniels Design Award in 2020. I have designed for companies such as, Neptune Theatre, Festival Antigonish Theatre, and Matchstick Theatre in Halifax, as well as Coal Mine Theatre, Puzzle Piece Theatre, Theatre Nidana, and Sapling Theatre in Toronto. You may have also seen my work as technical lead for the likes of Crow’s Theatre, Coal Mine Theatre, Paradigm Theatre, and Thin Edge New Music Collective.
I have studied Architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, as an avenue to expand my design skills and contribute in the long term to the design of performance spaces.