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Mbulelo Mpofu, Showbiz Reporter
LAST week, lighting designer Mildred “Lighting Bae” Moyo finally met her British lighting hero Patrick Woodroffe whom she considers the “godfather of lighting” and very instrumental in her lighting design career.
The self-taught lighting designer said meeting Woodroffe for the first time was amazing as she got to closely work with his lighting assistant on a Christmas-themed musical called, “Elf” which will aired for eight weeks, commencing this week, at the Dominion Theatre in London.
“I dreamt my way to London and finally met my hero. It was an amazing feeling. I cried as we hugged because this spelled the pinnacle of my lighting career. He’s an amazing person, down to earth and very humble and fatherly.
“We conversed a lot about life and I realised that dreams do come true. I never thought I’d live to see the day where I meet him since we always communicated virtually,” said Moyo.
For long, it had been her dream and ambition to meet Woodroffe, the “godfather of lighting” who mentored her to be the person she is today.
“My life story won’t be complete without the mention of Patrick Woodroffe. I got in touch with him in 2012 when I watched his work on the late Michael Jackson’s This Is It rehearsals before he passed on and my life was forever altered when he took me under his wings. Without his tutelage, my Zoom Masterclass series would not have had the same impact.
“Getting in touch with him was a turning point in my life as he’s a walking encyclopedia with a wealth of experience – having worked with world-renowned artistes and production houses,” said the Lighting Bae.
Woodroffe has worked in the world of music, dance, art, fashion and architecture. He has worked for Lady Gaga, Adele, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Rod Steward as well as being the creative director of the Rolling Stone live shows since 1982.
Moyo, who is renowned for her work at the European Film Festival, Shoko Festival, Zimbabwe Jazz Festival and Zimbabwe German Society Shows among many others, is behind the Phenomenal Power and Lighting Solutions company.
She is pursuing a Masters in Light and Performance at Rose Bruford College in London and Woodroffe is not the only person that she has been dying to meet.
She also met Light Collective personnel who were curating “Collected Light”, an intimate showcase of work by women lights artists in London. – @eMKlass_49
Online Reporter