WHO I AM / WHO AM I

Theatre, to me, is like a kitchen.

There is a head chef and other chefs — each with a role, a skill, a responsibility. Only when we work together can we make something truly nourishing.

I believe that process itself is the art — every cue, every experiment, every shift in light, shape, or color is a reflection of how we collaborate and feel.

For me, lighting isn’t just illumination - it is the architecture of emotion.

Lighting is not only about where the light falls, but also where the darkness lives.

Jiahao(Neil) Qiu is from Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, and is based in New York City. He is a Theatre Collaborator and Lighting Designer who works worldwide. Trained as both a craftsman and storyteller, he explores how light shapes emotion and connection. His work bridges art and precision — revealing the invisible structures that bring stories to life.