Charles Cusick Smith

Born: Glasgow.
Trained/Educated: Glasgow School of Art; The Slade School of Art, London; Arts Council Trainee Designer with English National Ballet.
Companies/Organisations: Resident designer with Library Theatre, Manchester; Freelance, Charles has worked in the UK and internationally designing opera, ballet, drama, musicals and pantomime.
Previous Work: Many productions for Leicester Haymarket Theatre, most notably The Plough and The Stars for which Charles was awarded the T.M.A. Award for Best Designer, 1993. European Premières of Sondheim’s Follies, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd as well as Ladies Night. National Tours and West End include: Dusty (with Mari Wilson), Hot Stuff, Heavenly Bodies, West Side Story (with Caroline O’Connor), Slice of Saturday Night (with Barbara Dickson), Chicago, Rock Hard, Hold Tight It’s 60s Night, Company and In The Midnight Hour. Most recently in London Albery Theatre, The Guardsman with Greta Schacci and Cliff, The Musical, Prince of Wales Theatre and National Tour. Internationally Charles has designed ballets and operas: Giselle, English National Ballet; Romeo and Juliet, Nutcracker, Cavelleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, Estonia; Romeo and Juliet, Indianapolis Ballet International; Nabucco, Aida, Don Carlos, The Wall (Rock Ballet), Otello, Der Rosencavalier, Cavelleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, Germany; Il Trovatore, Spartacus, Hong Kong.
Personal: Charles was awarded twice for his designs in the UK, most notably the Theatre Management of Great Britain, ‘Best Designer’ in 1993 and the Evening News Award ‘Best Designer’, 1986. He has also exhibited his paintings in the Dragooni Galeri, Estonia, the Royal Academy, London and in many galleries in the UK.