What is the relationship between architecture and live performance? How do buildings for theatre, music, dance and the alike actively shape production, artistic practice, audience experience, and cultural life? Enter the theatre consultant; a role that sits between architects, engineers, and artists, translating creative needs into architectural decisions.

Through real-world examples, ranging from the smallest venues to purpose-built halls of spectacle, this lecture highlights how collaboration across disciplines is essential to designing successful performance spaces. It examines how spatial proportions, audience–performer relationships, acoustics, circulation, and technical infrastructure influence what can happen on stage — and how it is perceived. It will touch on the historical evolution of performance spaces but emphasise contemporary practice and future challenges.

Finally, the lecture considers Iceland’s specific context — its creative culture, growing need for venues, and the opportunity for architects to contribute meaningfully to cultural infrastructure. It invites students to see theatre architecture not as a niche specialism, but as a powerful lens through which to understand architecture’s social, artistic, and experiential responsibilities.

Friðþjófur Þorsteinsson works worldwide at the intersection of live performance and architecture. His has been part of creating nearly 300 stage productions of most shapes and sizes, and alongside his artistic practice he consults with architects, engineers and artistic teams on the planning, design, and renovation of performance venues to ensure that buildings are both artistically and functionally successful. In more than 60 buildings he has contributed to over 100 venues.

Actively engaged in professional development, Friðþjófur lectures internationally and teaches at drama schools. He serves as a board member of Showlight, the leading conference for stage lighting professionals, sits on a working group developing national policy for the performing arts, and is chair of the Association of Independent Theatre Companies in Iceland.

Friðþjófur is also the founder of Showdeck, a digital platform for planning and producing live performance, currently in late-stage early development and gaining international traction.