In Honour of Rachel Burke
We celebrate and commemorate a dearly loved friend and collaborator, Rachel Burke.
Radiant Rachel...
In work and life, she was a sublime balance of the poetic and the practical. She felt and responded as tenderly as a tea light, yet her intellect and talent were as vast as her lighting for the exterior of Hamer Hall. She never stopped studying and stretching her craft; she never stopped supporting her collaborators and beloveds. Rachel could make the moon envious, such was her artistry. I was lucky to be in her orbit.
Ailsa Piper
Rachel brought the rare gift of true collaboration to each production; plus intuition , sensibility, intelligence and sincere human warmth, AND a delicious sense of humour.
"The Night Season" ( 2005) remains one of my proudest and happiest achievements, due in so many ways to Rachel's contributions- (she even supplied a vital prop, a central armchair with the perfect patina of age and place - a character in itself !)
What a privilege it has been to know her,and work with her, and how deeply we miss our dear friend.
Hugh Coleman
Rachel was an incredible mentor, friend and theatre mum. She always had time for me and will always be an inspiration. She would say to me "feel the fear but follow your beautiful heart and instincts.
Spencer Herd
Rachel did lighting design for my play Wittenoom, at Red Stitch. She was consistently kind, funny, upbeat, super-smart and super-generous. Always with that cheeky twinkle in her eye like a beautiful, slightly naughty kid.
In Susie Dee’s rehearsal room, everyone is encouraged to ‘make offers’ in order to make the play better. One day, Rachel leaned across the table to me, and said:
“Can I make you on offer for that line?”
She then offered me a replacement line which turned out to be one of the best lines in the play.
Rachel was one of nature’s gentle women.
She gave so much, and she still had so much more to give.
RIP, Rachel Burke. May you light up the cosmos the same brilliant way you lit up the stage.
Mary Anne Butler
In 2016 I plucked up the courage to ask Rachel if she would light a solo show I had written and was performing in: Catherine: The Body Politic, and to my great delight and gratitude, she said yes.The experience of working with her so closely on my own work was incredible. I learnt so much, and there is no question that her input took the work to another level, not just in terms of the lighting, but also in making art, making full, beautiful pictures of each scene, each moment.
I also had the privilege of being lit by her in five beautiful shows at Red Stitch: Escaped Alone, Wittenoom and the three plays of The Doll Trilogy.
In all of these plays her lighting, as well as her artistic input and stewardship, held and supported the acting, the storytelling, in the most incredible ways.
As well as being a truly amazing artist, Rachel was also a wonderful person: generous, kind, patient, thoughtful and loving.
She was incredibly generous with her time and her craft, her understanding of theatre and of art. She mentored, both officially and unofficially, many artists, including me.
Vale Rachel. So so sorry to lose you so soon.
Caroline Lee
When I think of Rachel, I think not just of the beautiful, subtle and sensuous work that she always did, right from when I first got to know her in the 90s, but of how much I valued her generosity as a colleague: her faith in art and her unstinting kindness to everyone who crossed her path. My experience with Rachel was physical, in the sense that she always made me feel better – about the work, about being an artist, about who I am in the world. There has been much written over the past few days about what a wonderful teacher and mentor she was, and this is why. She believed. She saw the good in everyone, and gave us the courage and the faith to find it in ourselves. And she was a magnificent, instinctive collaborator.
The first time I worked directly with her was during a mad season at the old Playbox, where I was coordinating a series of plays with an ensemble of actors and a beautiful, crazily overworked design team: Rachel, Christina Smith, and David Franzke. The fabulous Margaret Cameron (M) was performing two of her solo works, Knowledge and Melancholy and Bang! A Critical Fiction. M was directing herself, and Rachel came to me, in my capacity as the project leader, to ask me to 'design it with her'. She didn't need me, but for Rachel, the work was always about conversation and the electricity of collaborating. Needless to say, the work was stunning – golden light streaming through doorways and a soft, bluish haze, with M etched in the side and floor light in K&M and quirky, playful, almost childlike in Bang! I remember sitting there with M, Christina, and Dave, all of us just saying 'wow' and 'yes' and laughing and loving being together, making the work. Rachel helped the process be what we all dream it can be – rich, rewarding and full. Vale, you beautiful woman, artist, colleague, mother, wife and friend. Travel safe, wherever you go.
Tom Healey
Rachel was so joyful. She was passionate. She was wise. She was kind. She was warm. She was considered. She was fun. She was fierce. She was devoted. She was nurturing.
She felt, thought and shared deeply.
She was an artist.
She was a teacher.
She was a collaborator.
She was a brilliant theatrical mind.
She was adored.
She will be missed…profoundly.
Her absence is loud.
Ian Moorhead
Rachel was not only the kindest and most talented of artists, but also a true friend. She filled our world with warmth, generosity, and a kind of light that made everyone around her feel a little more alive. We feel so fortunate to have shared life and art with her, and our collaborations with her will forever be some of our most cherished.
She had an incredible ability to find the perfect look for every moment, driven by her honesty in art and in life, and her deep commitment to storytelling. But that part of our relationship was never separate from who she was to us as a person: someone we loved, trusted, and simply adored being around.
We will miss her enormously, and we will carry her light with us in everything we make from here.
Jacob Battista and Sophie Woodward
Thank you Rachel for your extraordinary warmth and talent. Working with you was being in the presence of a great artist and working under your light was the greatest gift. You had such an impact on so many of us. Your extraordinary talent was matched by an unwavering kindness and generosity and you will be missed so so much. Thank you for being a mother to us all and for blessing us with your light. We will cherish you forever.
Emily Goddard
First of all, she was a beauty. I mean, a real beauty: no props required. I’d see her gorgeous face across a foyer and feel that warmth of having completely unambiguous respect and love for someone. Second, she was all about the task at hand, so as a playwright — sometimes in the outer suburbs of the rehearsal room, I could trust that the words would be imbued with the best possible light and that it wouldn’t be flashy, but perfectly serve the whole collaboration. She worked so hard and had the highest standards: isn’t that the epitaph any one in theatre would ask for? Thirdly, in all our conversations over the years, I never heard her utter an unkind word, an unconstructive comment or anything remotely bitchy, yet she was funny and engaging and astute and unsentimental. Rachel lit three of my early plays at least: Love Child, Nightfall and Rapture. She never drew attention to herself but literally shone a light on everyone else. I was so lucky to work with her. I wish I’d told her that recently. I love that we grew up together in our work and in motherhood. What a wonderful woman.
Joanna Murray-Smith
Some examples of Rachel Burke’s beautiful lighting design
over 20 years at Red Stitch.
Rachel was one of the greatest theatre artists of our time, with an extensive and critically acclaimed body of work over more than three decades for main stage companies, independent theatre, and architectural lighting design both nationally and internationally.
Beyond her extraordinary artistic vision, Rachel was a beautiful light herself. She embraced those around her with warmth and depth that made you a more courageous artist. Working alongside Rachel you felt the resonance of her heart and her vision. Her passion, insight and caring nature persisted alongside a rigour and depth of talent that enriched every piece she made.
We, along with many others across the country, are devastated by her loss. We are sharing this news and some words in her honour, penned by just a few of the many people who loved Rachel. We remain grateful to have had the honour to work with her and to know her, and strive to carry her energy with us. Our hearts are with Rachel’s family.
Ella & everyone at Red Stitch
