Press.

Review of the lighting design at 8:20.
Mickey Jo Theatre
ONCE - London Palladium

"From hushed scenes of extremist planning, we hurtle onto verbal family spats and head-on confrontations with the other side. Supported by Joseph Ed Thomas’s eerie lighting design, it has all the intensity of a good thriller."
Anya Ryan - TimeOut
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"Joseph Ed Thomas' lighting and Kavanagh's own sound design are what makes Under The Black Rock. Moody lights with deep chiaroscuri illuminate the minimalistic set while the director's thundering, intense, sombre music highlights the shifts in the story. Based only on its appearance, it's an exquisite piece."
Cindy Marcolina - BroadwayWorld
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"The inventive use of lighting is also a plus, with bright spotlights, dim flickers and the occasional shock blast of light reflecting the moods and predicaments of the characters"
Kate Padley - The Indiependent
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"Joseph Ed Thomas does a highly imaginative job in lighting the darkness with subtle moods and some spectacular moments of creative inspiration. His tangerine flood early on is stunning."
Richard Beck - Broadway Baby
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"A piece that did genuinely have me on the edge of my seat at times and a show that’s visuals were exquisitely delivered."
Rosie Holmes - All That Dazzles
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"The inventive use of lighting is also a plus, with bright spotlights, dim flickers and the occasional shock blast of light reflecting the moods and predicaments of the characters."
Miles Morgan - AYoungishPerspective
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"Visually stimulating to the eye; Ceci Calf’s set design lodged a giant black rock above centre stage that comes to light when the plot gets eerily more dark and sinister, and along with Joseph Ed Thomas’s lighting effects throughout makes for an exhilarating watch on the technical front."
Kit Bromovsky - TheatreWeekly
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"The stage is simple – a table, some chairs – but the play offers some visually beautiful moments, also thanks to a wonderful use of light that perfectly accompanies the characters’ emotional and mental states."
Benedetta Mancusi - TheUpComing
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"For its many strengths (including excellent lighting and sound design by Joseph Ed Thomas and Ben Kavanagh."
Salterton Arts Review
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"...and some magnificently deployed lighting designed by Joseph Ed Thomas, emphasising dramatic moments with subtle colour choices and superb use of intensity and shadow."
Chris Lilly - TheReviewsHub
Under The Black Rock - Arcola Theatre

"The other strong aspect in Gene David Kirk’s pacily directed production is the various design elements which combine to create what appears to be an impenetrable bunker (David Shields). The immersive sound and lighting (Paul Gavin and Joseph Ed Thomas) create an electric atmosphere and are actually added to by the ominous sound of (real) trains rumbling overhead. Above all the brilliant video work by George Reeve."
John Chapman - 2nd From Bottom
The Convert - AboveTheStag

"The dialogue interplay is delivered crisply enough and presented on a cleverly lit and snappily designed set — Joseph Ed Thomas and David Shields, working wonders..."
Stuart King - LondonBoxOffice
The Convert - AboveTheStag

"There is much to praise in this production. David Shields’ wonderful set makes fantastic use of George Reeve’s video design – worth taking your seat early just to read up on conversion therapy techniques – and along with the lighting and sound, Joseph Ed Thomas and Paul Gavin respectively, creates the two locations used for the story and gives Director Gene David Kirk a lot of scope to bring every aspect of it to life."
Terry Eastham - LondonTheatre1
The Convert - AboveTheStag

"The set by David Shields is brilliant, while the lighting (Joseph Ed Thomas) and sound (Paul Gavin) get you in the mood for a party."
Louise Penn - LouReviews
Alright Bitches - AboveTheStag

“Through its technical and artistic departments, Alright Bitches, exhibits itself in extraordinary form. To complete the visual spectacle, Joseph Ed Thomas flawlessly brings the lively party climate to life with his stimulating lighting design."
Jamie Barnes - The Reviews Hub
Alright Bitches - AboveTheStag

“…and effective lighting from Joseph Ed Thomas, this is a play where all the elements come together perfectly to add to the experience.”
AllThatDazzles
Sidney Fox's Crime - AboveTheStag

“…and simple but effective staging (kudos to David Shields and Joseph Ed Thomas for set and lighting design respectively), Sidney Fox’s Crime is an intriguing show that true crime fans will certainly enjoy.”
TheRecsUK
Sidney Fox's Crime - AboveTheStag

“David Shields' set and the lighting of Joseph Ed Thomas beautifully situate the shifting realities of the narrative and create just the right atmosphere.”
LondonLivingLarge
Sidney Fox's Crime - AboveTheStag

"The design elements of this show are minimal but Joseph Ed Thomas’ lighting design does a lot of heavy lifting, with some impressive lanterns that wouldn’t look out of place on Jack Warner’s studio lot."
Livvy Perrett - West End Best Friend
Jewish Hollywood - Upstairs at the Gatehouse

"..effectively lit by Joseph Ed Thomas."
MusicalTheatreReview
Jewish Hollywood - Upstairs at the Gatehouse

"The use of vintage Hollywood movie lights is enough to make us feel like we are on one of the famous backlots!"
Victoria Willetts - Box Office Radio
Jewish Hollywood - Upstairs at the Gatehouse

"Indeed, everything about The Pleasure Garden is a feast for the eye."
Shyama Perera - My Theatre Mates
The Pleasure Garden - AboveTheStag

"It’s all framed beautifully by the perfectly balanced visuals. David Shield’s design for the fantastic set and costumes, Joseph Ed Thomas’ lighting and George Reeve’s video made a small stage feel cavernous, reflective of the gentle expanse of the Pleasure Gardens themselves."
Karl O'Doherty - The Reviews Hub
The Pleasure Garden - AboveTheStag

"It works brilliantly with Joseph Ed Thomas’ lighting design, the flickering of lights not only signifying the dodgy electrics in the flat, but also rapid scene changes. At the back of the stage, beautiful gradients shine through the blinds, and when in Australia, Kate performs under a hot, orange glow. With flashes and colour, the lighting is urgent, intense and creative."
Liam O'Dell - LiamODell.com
39 Degrees - The Vaults, Waterloo

"Combined with the impressive production design; this makes for a visually stunning piece."
Grace Bouchard - Upper Circle
39 Degrees - The Vaults, Waterloo

“The lighting is excellent”
Chris Omaweng - LondonTheatre1
39 Degrees - The Vaults, Waterloo

“A clever lighting design by Joseph Ed Thomas ramps up the heat – an orange glow burns the faces of Goodfellow and Newbury-Payton... the window conveys Australia’s blazing skies.”
Olivia Rook - The Stage
39 Degrees - The Vaults, Waterloo

"Joseph Ed Thomas managed the lighting well, creating some memorable and appropriately epic effects, as well as highlighting the small-scale, intimate story at the heart of the piece.."
Julian Eaves - BritishTheatre.com
Fight Like A Girl - Mountview

"Joseph Ed Thomas’ atmospheric lighting design compliments the simple yet effective set beautifully"
"An outstanding piece of theatre which deserves to be seen by many. PROM! is a slick, stylish production, magical fun from start to finish."
Nikki Cotter - Opening Night
PROM! the Musical - Oldham Coliseum

"The lighting... was also better than I have seen in most provincial theatres and I was really impressed by the impact of this on the production quality as a whole. One of my favourite moments using elements of design was the dramatic arrival of the students from the magical world of Defixus Academy, into the real world of Delawick. The choreography and lighting of this sequence was wonderful."
Johanna Hassouna-Smith - North West End
PROM! the Musical - Oldham Coliseum

"...drawn largely from the original score that starts with an overture to which Joseph Ed Thomas matches a lively lighting display round the multiple doorways of Andrew Beckett’s simple set."
Howard Loxton - BritishTheatreGuide
BOY TOY - AboveTheStag

"...but it is Spencer’s choreography and direction along with Joseph Ed Tomas’s lighting design and Andrew Beckett’s set and costume design that really brought out the humour, love and power in equal measure in that climactic moment."
Christopher Kelsey - Broadway Baby
BOY TOY - AboveTheStag

"The staging of the show is extremely impressive with four neon lit red doors echoing the more salubrious and salacious aspects of Soho; very clever indeed."
Stephen Vowles - Boyz Magazine
BOY TOY - AboveTheStag

"The joy of Sister Act was a godsend (sorry) during the recession when it came to London a decade ago, and it’s a godsend now with the world being what it is. Overall, this is a slick and well-paced production with a palpable feel-good factor. Rejoice!"
Chris Omaweng - LondonTheatre1
Sister Act the Musical - The Vaults, Waterloo

"Wilkinson heightens the exchanges between the main character's internal monologue and what happens around him, creating an atmosphere that turns increasingly bitter and personal with Joseph Ed Thomas' lighting design."
Cindy Marcolina - BroadwayWorld.com
Digging Deep - The Vaults, Waterloo

“Natalie Johnson’s set and costume design of varying shades of blue are lit to subtle yet dramatic effect by Joseph Thomas, a hint of what’s to come with a flash of colour lighting up the freestanding bath between scenes”
Nikki Cotter - OpeningNightReviews
MYDIDAE - Hope Mill Theatre

"And from that story we are able to feel a number of emotions, helped by innovative lighting design by Joseph Thomas."
Amalia Felicijan - TheatreWeekly
Of Our Own Making - Tara Arts

"Foreboding whispers and droning crescendos accompany blinding lights and the surprisingly haunting presence of mathematical equations occasionally projected onto the house.

The light and sound used to cut between flashback and the present near the beginning of the second act is flawlessly executed, and highly impressive to watch."
Sam France - MancunianMatters
Proof - Hope Mill Theatre

"Joseph Ed Thomas and Dan Pyke’s sound and light subtlety and beautifully enhance the emotional arc of the piece, allowing the narrative timeline to be clearly depicted."
Ben Hipkiss - Pocket Size Theatre
Proof - Hope Mill Theatre

"Joseph Ed Thomas’ lighting design veers from the naturalistic, bringing changing seasons and even some delicate snow in moonlight to the stage, to the harshly dramatic, assaulting the audience’s retinas with blazing back-lighting that has no mercy."
Thalia Terpsichore - Reviewer Number 9
Proof - Hope Mill Theatre

"The “technicolour” lighting, as designed by Joseph Thomas, is another production element that stands out. It makes Henry’s dream of wanting to be onstage dynamic and alive, and the darker moments of the musical rather poignant."
Sam Lowe - TheReviewsHub
Closets the Musical - Hope Mill Theatre

"While Joseph Thomas perfectly lights William Whelton’s punchy choreography."
Nikki Cotter - Opening Night
Closets the Musical - Hope Mill Theatre

"The audience is taken on a big, bold, catchy and beautifully realised journey... Joseph Thomas deserving his own special shout out for his impressive lighting design"
Jack The Lad Mag
Closets the Musical - Hope Mill Theatre

“With some startling lighting... as the cast of twelve miss-matched jurors appeared.”
Barbara Sherlock - Reviewer Number 9
The Jury, A New Musical - The Brindley Theatre

“Joseph Thomas’s lighting design is simple but stunning. Working with the mood of each musical number emulating the characters emotion and the turmoil one must feel when deliberating a man’s fate.”
Abbie Rippon - The Reviews Hub
The Jury, A New Musical - The Brindley Theatre

"Lighting (Joseph Ed Thomas) is used well to transition between busy scenes and more intimate conversations."
Ella McCarron - SpyInTheStalls
Miracle on 34th Street - BridgeHouse SE20

"Heartwarming and slickly produced radio broadcast version of an American Christmas classic"
Dave Hollander - The Stage
Miracle on 34th Street - BridgeHouse SE20