Olivia Chen-Williams is a West End technical director and associate lecturer at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, specialising in kinetic scenography and robotics integration for live performance. She holds an MFA in Theatre Design from Central Saint Martins and certifications in theatrical automation safety. With 15 years directing technical departments for major London productions, she bridges the gap between artistic vision and engineering reality.
Olivia Chen-Williams has revolutionised how British theatre approaches the integration of technology and live performance, bringing engineering precision to artistic vision. She completed her undergraduate degree in Set Design at Wimbledon College of Arts before pursuing an MFA in Theatre Design at Central Saint Martins, where she developed her specialism in kinetic scenography. Her career spans technical direction for West End productions including shows at the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, and commercial productions requiring complex automation systems. Olivia has expertise in briefing robotics engineers using movement language, understanding the practical differences between pneumatic and servo-driven systems for kinetic props, and managing the safety protocols that have prevented incidents on major productions. She holds certifications in theatrical automation safety and has contributed to industry guidelines addressing the near-misses that have affected recent West End seasons. At RADA, she teaches emerging designers and directors how to collaborate effectively with technical teams, ensuring that ambitious creative visions can be realised safely and within budget. Her writing demystifies the technical rehearsal process for practitioners and helps choreographers, directors, and designers understand when to schedule tech rehearsals for kinetic shows. Olivia is committed to bridging the communication gap between artistic and engineering disciplines that increasingly define contemporary performance.