Lizz Santos has experience in theatre set design and costume design
Theatre Set and Costume Design

Theatre

I was educated at Nottingham Trent University and graduated with a degree in Theatre Design in 1990. Directly from University, I took up a 5 year Design Residency at Pori City Theatre in Finland where I designed sets and costumes for over 40 productions on both the main and studio stages. In 1992 I co-founded the theatre group; Rakastajat Theatre, a professional company producing five in-house shows a year. I designed all these, up until my departure from Finland in 1998.

In 1995 I turned freelance and began to work on large scale theatre productions and events all over Finland, Sweden and middle Europe, enjoying international recognition in Spain, Poland and the UK in Drama, Dance, Opera and Children's Theatre.

After a period of nearly 10 years working in the Northern Hemisphere, I moved to New Zealand in 1999. I designed for Auckland Theatre Company, NZ Actors Company, Canterbury Opera, Downstage, Bats & Circa Theatres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. My first theatre design in NZ was nominated for “Best Set Design” for Flipside at the 2000 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards and my music video designs feature regularly in the NZ Music Awards.

Since I started my professional career, I have designed over 150 productions in areas of both set and costume design for theatre. This has enabled me to work, and have my work seen on stages in seven countries worldwide.

Set Design

My NZ work includes designs for Roger Hall's A Way of Life for the NZ Actors Company, Edward Albee's The Play about the Baby for The Auckland Theatre Company, John Rimmer and Whiti Ihimara's Opera Galileo and followed Norma with Cose fan Tutti for Canterbury Opera. I also designed The Telephone and Ahmal and the Night Visitors in Invercargill for their Christmas Opera Season. My most recent work, The Drawer Boy directed by Gavin Richards, toured the South Island in June 2004 and the North Island in 2005.

Theatre set design by Lizz Santos Theatre set design by Lizz Santos Theatre set design by Lizz Santos Theatre set design by Lizz Santos Theatre set design by Lizz Santos Theatre set design by Lizz Santos

Musicals

  • 1997 Virgo, dir. Heikki Paavilainen – Tampere City Theatre
  • 1997 Pop Oz, dir. Rauli Jokelin – Jyvaskyla City Theatre
  • 1996 Wash Your Mouth Out, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1996 Kaija Cuckoo and 7 Small Men, dir. Jukka Pekka Rotko – Theatre 2000
  • 1994 Oliver!, dir. Heikki Vartsi – Pori City Theatre

Dance

  • 2002 Blackbody, chor. Heidi Simmons – Propulsion Bats Theatre STAB 2002
  • 1999 Spanish Fly, chor. Maria Kausi – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1998 Portent, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1998 Commentator, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1996 Give Me Happiness, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1992 Spinning Top, chor. Marjo Kuusela – Pori City Theatre

Children's Theatre

  • 1997 The Emporers New Clothes, dir. Kai Tanner – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1997 Emil, dir. Jamie Ann Makkinen – Theatre 2000
  • 1997 Little Red Ridinghood, dir. Kai Tanner – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1995 Creature Life, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1994 Holiday from Hell, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1993 The Royal Current Buns, dir. Soila Valkama – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1990 Immu, dir. Titta Antti-Poikka – Pori City Theatre
  • 1990 Old King Cole, dir. Camron Page – Neptune Theatre, Liverpool
  • 1990 Electric Games, dir. Deborah Close – The Premier Theatre Co. TIE

Opera

  • 2002 Telephone, dir. Jamie Bull – Adventure Southland Invercargil Theatre
  • 2002 Amahl, dir. Sarah – Adventure Southland Invercargil Theatre
  • 2002 Galileo, dir. John Daivies – Maidment Theatre
  • 2002 Cosi fan Tutti, dir. Ira Siff – Canterbury Opera
  • 2002 Norma, dir. Ross Colmann – Canterbury Opera
  • 2000 Jackie O, dir. Anna Haaranen – Tampere City Opera
  • 1998 The Turn of the Screw, dir. Anna Haaranen – Tampere Conservatory
  • 1997 The Abduction from Serail, dir. Eric Soderblom – Pori City Opera
  • 1996 Carmen Negra, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Tampere City Theatre & Tampere Opera
  • 1994 The Bartered Bride, dir. Jussi Tapola – Pori City Theatre

Drama

  • 2003 The Drawer Boy, dir. Gavin Richards – Theatre South (Touring)
  • 2002 The Play About the Baby, dir. Simon Prast – Auckland Theatre Company
  • 2001 A Way of Life, dir. Simon Bennett - NZ Actor's Company
  • 2001 Government Inspector, dir. Vadim Ledogorov – UNITEC
  • 2001 Between, dir. Vanessa Byrnes – Bats Theatre (Fringe Festival -Young & Hungry)
  • 2000 Flipside, dir. Simon Bennett – Circa Theatre
  • 2000 Unforgiven Harvest, dir. Jonathan Hendry – Downstage Theatre
  • 2000 Missionary Position, dir. Renee – Circa Theatre
  • 1998 Three Sisters, dir. Markus Groth – Theatre Kamina
  • 1998 The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, dir. Katriina Lahti – Viirus
  • 1997 The Priest's Family, dir.Pekka Saaristo – Pori City Theatre
  • 1997 The Bear Hunter, Martti Kittunen, dir. Juha Hurme – HKI Uni Theatre
  • 1998 A is for Amsterdam, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1996 Why Doesn't Eeva Leave?, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1995 The Seagull, dir. Jotaarkka Pennanen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1995 Good Night, Mother, dir. Tytti Oittinen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1995 Funny Money, dir. Mikko Viherjuuri – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 The Marriage of Figaro, dir. Markus Pakalen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 The Sacrificial Hammer, dir. Adolfo Simon – Rakastjat Theatre
  • 1994 Who is Sari Nuotio?, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1994 What Now Niscavuori?, dir. Maija-Liisa Marton – Pori City Theatre
  • 1993 Sonja's Boutique, dir. Kari Suvalo – Pori City Theatre
  • 1993 Married Again, dir. Seppo Maanittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 Decadence, dir. Hilkka Ollikainen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1992 Daisy, dir. Maarit Pyokari – Pori City Theatre
  • 1992 I Love Him, Who the Parsnip?, dir. Vesa Haltsonen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1991 Twins, dir. Seppo Maaniittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1991 The Lover, dir. Hilkka Ollikainen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1991 The Family Loudness, dir. Seppo Maaniittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1991 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, dir. Pirjo Koljonen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1990 Road, dir. Simon Dixon – Touch and Go Arts Co-op, Nottingham

Costume Design

My NZ work includes designs for Roger Hall's A Way of Life for the NZ Actors Company, Edward Albee's The Play about the Baby for The Auckland Theatre Company, John Rimmer and Whiti Ihimara's Opera Galileo and Norma for Canterbury Opera. I also designed The Telephone and Ahmal and the Night Visitors in Invercargill for their Christmas Opera Season. My most recent work, The Drawer Boy directed by Gavin Richards, toured the South Island in June 2004 and the North Island in 2005.

Theatre costume design by Lizz Santos Theatre costume design by Lizz Santos Theatre costume design by Lizz Santos Theatre costume design by Lizz Santos

Musicals

  • 1997 Pop Oz, dir. Rauli Jokelin – Jyvaskyla City Theatre
  • 1996 Wash Your Mouth Out, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1996 Kaija Cuckoo and 7 Small Men, dir. Jukka Pekka Rotko – Theatre 2000
  • 1994 Oliver!, dir. Heikki Vartsi – Pori City Theatre

Dance

  • 2002 Blackbody, chor. Heidi Simmons – Propulsion Bats Theatre STAB 2002
  • 1999 Spanish Fly, chor. Maria Kausi – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1998 Portent, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1998 Commentator, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1996 Give Me Happiness, chor. Arja Raatikainen – Zodiak, Stoa & Nomadi
  • 1992 Spinning Top, chor. Marjo Kuusela – Pori City Theatre

Children's Theatre

  • 1997 The Emporers New Clothes, dir. Kai Tanner – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1997 Emil, dir. Jamie Ann Makkinen – Theatre 2000
  • 1997 Little Red Ridinghood, dir. Kai Tanner – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1995 Creature Life, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1994 Holiday from Hell, dir. Jamie Ann Makinen – Ahaa Theatre
  • 1993 The Royal Current Buns, dir. Soila Valkama – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1990 Immu, dir. Titta Antti-Poikka – Pori City Theatre
  • 1990 Old King Cole, dir. Camron Page – Neptune Theatre, Liverpool
  • 1990 Electric Games, dir. Deborah Close – The Premier Theatre Co. TIE

Opera

  • 2002 Telephone, dir. Jamie Bull – Adventure Southland Invercargil Theatre
  • 2002 Amahl, dir. Sarah – Adventure Southland Invercargil Theatre
  • 2002 Galileo, dir. John Daivies – Maidment Theatre
  • 2002 Norma, dir. Ross Colmann – Canterbury Opera
  • 2000 Jackie O, dir. Anna Haaranen – Tampere City Opera
  • 1998 The Turn of the Screw, dir. Anna Haaranen – Tampere Conservatory

Drama

  • 2002 The Play About the Baby, dir. Simon Prast – Auckland Theatre Company
  • 2001 Government Inspector, dir. Vadim Ledogorov – UNITEC
  • 2000 Unforgiven Harvest, dir. Jonathan Hendry – Downstage Theatre
  • 2000 Missionary Position, dir. Renee – Circa Theatre
  • 1998 Three Sisters, dir. Markus Groth – Theatre Kamina
  • 1998 The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, dir. Katriina Lahti – Viirus
  • 1997 The Priest's Family, dir.Pekka Saaristo – Pori City Theatre
  • 1997 The Bear Hunter, Martti Kittunen, dir. Juha Hurme – HKI Uni Theatre
  • 1998 A is for Amsterdam, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1996 Why Doesn't Eeva Leave?, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1995 Good Night, Mother, dir. Tytti Oittinen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1995 Funny Money, dir. Mikko Viherjuuri – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 The Marriage of Figaro, dir. Markus Pakalen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 The Sacrificial Hammer, dir. Adolfo Simon – Rakastjat Theatre
  • 1994 Who is Sari Nuotio?, dir. Juha Siltanen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1993 Sonja's Boutique, dir. Kari Suvalo – Pori City Theatre
  • 1993 Married Again, dir. Seppo Maanittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1994 Decadence, dir. Hilkka Ollikainen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1992 Daisy, dir. Maarit Pyokari – Pori City Theatre
  • 1992 I Love Him, Who the Parsnip?, dir. Vesa Haltsonen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1991 Twins, dir. Seppo Maaniittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1991 The Lover, dir. Hilkka Ollikainen – Rakastajat Theatre
  • 1991 The Family Loudness, dir. Seppo Maaniittu – Pori City Theatre
  • 1991 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, dir. Pirjo Koljonen – Pori City Theatre
  • 1990 Road, dir. Simon Dixon – Touch and Go Arts Co-op, Nottingham