MEET THE 3LR TEAM OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS

At 3LR we are all about relationships and trying to listen and help our customers get the best from the technology and knowhow we represent. The 3LR team offer a huge amount of experience in our part of the business, in fact a combined amount of over 80 years between us across Live Events, Architectural Lighting and Control, Cruise Ship New build and Refit, Broadcast, TV and Film.

We work extensively across the UK and Internationally and are passionate about helping and providing solutions to projects whatever the size and challenge. Even if it is not one the brands we represent, we will do our best to help find a solution for you.

3LR’s Matt Lloyd

E: [email protected]

M: +44 7967 556 869 | O: +44 117 325 9098

I started 3LR in July 2019, having been in the lighting and entertainment Industry since 1986. My career has moved through theatre and touring, supplying lighting systems, manufacturing, and now to specifying architectural lighting and control. I am also an established business consultant and director of two companies, working on some of the most exciting and iconic entertainment projects in the world.

I co-founded GDS (Global Design Solutions) and was at the helm of the business from 2004 to 2019. GDS began as an idea in the middle of The Panama Canal, during an around the world yacht race! My experience of leading GDS was entirely positive, and being immersed in helping to create, develop and deliver cutting-edge products as part of such a fantastic team was a joy. The company grew from its two founders to team of more than thirty, with a distribution network across thirty-eight countries, a cumulative turnover of £25m, and was recognised with sixteen prestigious industry awards during my time as Managing Director.

That Clipper around the world yacht race in 2002, which took eleven months from Liverpool to Liverpool via the Panama Canal and Cape of Good Hope, was a life changing experience, and gave me great insight into the value of communication, teamwork and the importance of living life to the full every day.

I am very proud to be treasurer of PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association) which is the leading voice in the technical world of entertainment.

3LR’s Joshua Allen – Head of Design

E: [email protected]

M: +44 7376 719 260 | O: +44 117 325 9098

About Josh Allen:

Joshua C. Allen’s 30 years of lighting industry experience have seen him become a leading expert on entertainment, architectural lighting and lighting control systems design. For more than a decade he was a principal consultant with Theatre Consultants Collaborative (TCC), assisting clients with the design of dynamic projects in both new builds and historical renovations. He has designed for more than 200 productions in theatre, dance, and television, and his CV includes multiple projects for the revival of New Orleans, as well as for Viking River Cruises, Carnival Cruise lines, MSG, scores of Performing Arts Centers and touring venues, and many Universities. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA829 IATSE, former member of the ASTC, and has received numerous awards from the IES for his architectural lighting and systems designs.

3LR’s Stuart West

E: [email protected]

M: +44 7903 059579 | O: +44 117 325 9098

Stuart has been working in the entertainment and event industry for over 25 years and has experience across all disciplines of technical theatre and production, as well as venue management and building operations.

Stuart has held managerial roles in mid to large scale touring and producing venues around the United Kingdom – including Sheffield Theatres, Cast in Doncaster, Royal & Derngate Northampton and Milton Keynes Theatre. He also has extensive international touring experience.

Throughout his career Stuart has had the opportunity to be involved with the opening of several arts buildings and complexes; both new builds and redevelopments. In each of his positions Stuart has played a key senior role with responsibility for the commissioning, snagging and sign off of the building and production systems. Collaborating with architects, consultants and main contractors to deliver practical, functional arts buildings that better serve the artists, technicians and the local community that use them. Always with an aim of making those buildings and facilities future proof and more sustainable for the long-term.

Stuart was honoured to be asked to contribute to the Association of British Theatre Technicians new revision of ‘Theatre Buildings: a Design Guide’.

Stuart is also the leading expert in the UK on Yesplan Venue Management Software. Helping organisations better perform through targeted software and technology.

3LR’s Simon Needle

Email: [email protected]

M: +44 7831 362 253  |  O: +44 117 325 9098

After graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and a short period as Assistant Master Carpenter and Flyman at the Fortune Theatre, Simon returned to his passion with Lighting and spent a season at Wimbledon Theatre before a 5-year period at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End.

From there Simon started his own Production Lighting Services Company and over the next 20+ years, worked on hundreds of large-scale Corporate, West End, UK & International Touring Productions, and events.

Over that period Simon had the pleasure of working in every West End Theatre on multiple occasions and most (not quite all) Theatres across the UK.

As a freelance Lighting Designer, Production LX and Project Manager, Simon found himself working with many wonderful gifted and exceptional UK & US Lighting Designers and Production Managers as well as a huge amount of talented Theatre professionals up and down the Country.

Additionally, as a subcontractor to White Light, Simon delivered many diverse Installation Projects and in 2008, joined WL full-time as Project Manager. Following successful delivery of several Major overseas Projects, Simon took on the role of Head of Projects, and soon after as Special Projects Director.

As Projects Director, he has overseen and been responsible for multiple high value capital projects for WL, including WB Theme Park in Abu Dhabi, City of Dreams and Parisian Theatre in Macau, Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, and WB Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, ensuring all projects were completed on time, to budget and to a very high standard.

Simon is now very excited to be joining 3LR as Director of Special Projects with a focus on Lighting, Control & Rigging.

3LR’s Sandra James
Project Manager (UK Based)

E: [email protected]

M: +44 7977 535 172  | O: +44 117 325 9098

Sandra joined 3LR having worked in the construction industry for over 20 years as a chartered surveyor with JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) specialising in commercial property.

Sandra has a Batchelor of Science (BSc) Hons degree in Building Surveying and was a chartered member of RICS (Royal institute of Chartered Surveyors) for 20 years. Sandra worked as a project manager delivering a range of projects from early conception through to completion, dealing with all aspects of construction. Sandra worked on multimillion-pound projects for a range of high-profile clients including Hewlett Packard, Dyson and various educational facilities and retail companies in the UK.

Sandra brings with her a great understanding of the construction processes, programming, contracts, and buildability of a scheme. Sandra’s experience of the construction industry enhances and widens 3LR’s ability to integrate into the design team and process more easily and help our customers manage the 3LR elements of their schemes.

3LR’s Karoliina Helin – Architectural Lighitng Designer

Email: [email protected]

M: +44 7903 260 535  |  O: +44 117 325 9098

A native of Finland, Karoliina Helin is 3LR’s in-house architectural lighting designer.

Karoliina’s lighting career started after she graduated from UWE with a degree in interior architecture. Realising the power lighting can have within a space, she joined re:Light in Bristol where she worked as senior lighting designer. She has since worked for Satore Studio in Cardiff as well as being a freelance lighting designer, during which time she collaborated with 3LR on hundreds of projects.

As part of her role at 3LR, Karoliina works with the team on a variety of projects, in a number of capacities. For new spaces, Karoliina devises brand-new lighting designs, which fulfil the client’s creative vision as well as the ethos of the building. She’s responsible for colour temperatures, beam angles, lighting levels via the DIALux software, along with any other specifications of the utilised fittings. Similarly, for spaces that require upgrades, Karoliina oversees a ‘like for like’ replacement, meaning she’s able to devise a plan with state-of-the-art fixtures that replicate the look and feel of an existing set-up

Contact the 3LR team