Their usual home is behind the scenes, away from the spotlight. But now new awards have been created for those theatre practitioners who don't get a round of applause at the end of a show.
Sir Roger Hall knows all about the contribution they've made to the hundreds of productions of his plays. His Theatre Fund supports the $5,000 Out Of The Limelight awards, and among the inaugural winners is Wellington lighting designer, Marcus McShane.
Marcus has created more than 500 theatre designs and installation artworks since 2005, aside from his work for architecture and museum design. He also finds time to be a visual artist.
Marcus joins Lynn Freeman in the studio to talk about life behind - and in front of - the spotlight.
