Australian Theatre Mourns Visionary Lighting Designer Rachel Burke
Rachel Burke, a renowned lighting designer from Australia, passed away in late July 2026 at the age of 59. Throughout her impressive 30-year career, she received 13 Green Room Awards and was nominated for two Helpmann Awards. Her significant projects include The Glass Mermaid (1994), My Sister Jill, Wittenoom (2023), Meow Meow's The Red Shoes, and Yentl. Burke served as a Senior Associate at Relume Consulting and collaborated with Electrolight on key initiatives such as the lighting masterplan for Arts Centre Melbourne (2007) and AAMI Park. She also taught at the Victorian College of the Arts and lectured at the University of Melbourne from 2017 to 2019. A memorial service is scheduled for 15 September at 6pm at Malthouse Theatre, where her impact on countless artists will be celebrated.
Key facts
- Rachel Burke died in late July 2026 aged 59.
- She won 13 Green Room Awards and had two Helpmann Award nominations.
- Her career spanned over three decades across theatre, dance, music, puppetry, and architecture.
- Notable works include The Glass Mermaid (1994), My Sister Jill, Wittenoom, Meow Meow's The Red Shoes, and Yentl.
- Yentl transferred to London earlier this year after a sell-out Australian tour.
- She was Senior Associate at Relume Consulting and previously worked with Electrolight.
- Architectural projects include Arts Centre Melbourne exterior lighting masterplan (2007), AAMI Park, Hamer Hall, Lonsdale Street in Dandenong, and Robina Light Sculpture.
- A memorial gathering will be held at Malthouse Theatre on 15 September at 6pm.
- Red Stitch Actors' Theatre honoured her as 'one of the greatest theatre artists of our time'.
- Ella Caldwell, Artistic Director and CEO of Red Stitch, paid tribute to Burke.
Entities
Artists
- Rachel Burke
- Ella Caldwell
- Meow Meow
Institutions
- Red Stitch Actors' Theatre
- Malthouse Theatre
- Belvoir
- Sydney Theatre Company
- Melbourne Theatre Company
- The Australian Ballet
- Victorian Opera
- Playbox
- La Mama
- Black Swan State Theatre Company
- Kadimah Yiddish Theatre
- Relume Consulting
- Electrolight
- Arts Centre Melbourne
- Victorian College of the Arts
- University of Melbourne
- Rusden College
- St Martins Youth Arts Centre
- ScreenHub
- ArtsHub
Locations
- Australia
- Melbourne
- Southbank
- Sydney
- London
- Dandenong
- Robina