Santa & Cole’s custom Cirio lighting transforms Nevill Holt Opera Theatre into a luminous blend of heritage, craftsmanship, and modern design.
Nevill Holt Opera | Santa & Cole
Santa & Cole’s Cirio Brings Warmth and Harmony to a Modern Masterpiece
At the historic Nevill Holt Opera Theatre in Leicestershire, England, light plays a starring role. Designed by RIBA Stirling Prize–winning architecture studio Witherford Watson Mann, this 17th-century stable yard has been reimagined into one of the country’s most acclaimed performance spaces—earning praise from The Times as “arguably the best little opera house in the country to date.”
To complement the theatre’s architectural beauty and natural materials, the design team sought a lighting solution that would merge seamlessly with the space’s sustainable and artful design. Enter Santa & Cole, the renowned Spanish lighting house known for crafting timeless, human-centered illumination.
At the heart of the theatre, a custom Cirio lighting installation serves as the focal point of the auditorium. Suspended gracefully above the audience, each porcelain lampshade was meticulously finished in a custom tone to echo the wood and stone palette of the interior. The Cirio LED capsules, each individually DMX controlled, allow for dynamic lighting effects that enhance both the performance and the architecture, transforming light into an integral part of the artistic experience.
Blending craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation, Santa & Cole’s Cirio series perfectly embodies the harmony between architectural form and emotional warmth. The result is a space that feels at once historic and modern, intimate yet grand, a true celebration of how design and light can elevate culture.
