RAPHAÉ MEMON is a scenographer and stage designer, trained in architecture, working across opera, dance, theatre, exhibitions, and sculptural installations.
ABOUT
Raphaé studied Architecture at Manchester and the Bartlett UCL. His passion for the performing arts stems from a deep love of classical music and its integration with spatial design on stage. With a background in school choirs, years as a clarinettist in orchestras and wind bands, and seven years of classical ballet training as an adult, he brings an intimate understanding of performance to his scenographic work. In simple terms, each of his projects explores the creation of scenic space, from the scale of a theatre stage to a public square. More profoundly, they consider the development of architectural space through the lens of the scenographer, and vice versa.
AWARDS + TEACHING
Treemonisha, performed at 2019’s Grimborn Opera Festival in London was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in a New Opera Production in the Broadway World UK Awards. Raphaé was the set and costume designer.
Raphaé’s stage design for opera Polyeucte at Theatre Royal Stratford East London won the award for Best Design in the Arts Colours Awards in Cafe de Paris, London. The design was also represented in the exhibition Staging Places - UK Design for Performance 2015-2019 at the Prague Quadrennial and at the V&A.
Raphaé is the recipient of several design awards, has presented and displayed projects in conferences and exhibitions, and was nominated for the prestigious RIBA President’s Bronze Medal. He has taught at The Bartlett Summer School and been an invited critic for programmes at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, The Bartlett and Westminster Schools of Architecture.
DESIGN PROJECTS
2024 — Installation: Minutes in Blue – Rodić Davidson, London
2023 — Opera: Carmen – St Paul’s Clapham, London
2023 — Installation: TIME – Gaggenau + London Festival of Architecture
2022 — Dance: Noise Interactive – BBC Arts
2021 — Opera: The Medium – RNCM, Manchester
2021 — Opera: Ariadne auf Naxos – RNCM, Manchester
2020 — Dance: Noise – Ugly Duck, London
2019 — Opera: La Cenerentola – Peacock Theatre, London
2019 — Opera: Treemonisha – Arcola Theatre, London
2019 — Fashion: Haunted Reminiscence – Teeth Magazine Editorial
2018 — Opera: Isolde – Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
2018 — Fashion: Eponine – Lookbook Shoot
2018 — Opera: Polyeucte – Theatre Royal Stratford East, London
2014 — Musical: Sweeney Todd – UoM, Manchester
PRESS
“Raphaé is a talented designer who I have worked with across a number of projects of different scales and scopes. He approaches his work with great integrity and diligence and is always a much trusted and respected member of the team” SIMON SLADEN, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Performance, Victoria and Albert Museum
See individual project pages for coverage from The Guardian, The Telegraph, Opera Today, The Stage, Opera Magazine, BroadwayWorld, and Operissima
WITH / FOR / ALONGSIDE
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech | Hamish Bowles | Valentino | Victoria and Albert Museum | Es Devlin | London Festival of Architecture | London Design Festival | Prague Quadrennial | National Theatre | Royal Northern College of Music | Teeth Magazine | Jo Fetto | Ashish Gupta | British Youth Opera | Grimeborn Opera Festival | Edinburgh Festival Fringe | UCOpera | The Bartlett UCL | Society of British Theatre Designers | Royal Institute of British Architects
CONTACT
studio@raphaememon.com
© 2025 Raphaé Memon. The images on this website are copyrighted and may not be downloaded or reproduced without permission.