xvelastín [sound artist]

Theatre Sound


In R&D for Kummerspeck with Lilac Yosiphon at Cervantes Theatre.
Photo by Lidia Crisafulli.
About
I'm a sound designer, composer and audio technologist who collaborates with theatre companies to develop innovative approaches to using sound on stage. My work ranges from immersive soundscapes to complex musical scores to precisely designed sound effects. As a performance maker myself I'm very sensitive to the importance of crafting a cohesive stage language. Having worked in the industry for several years both on- and off-stage in various roles, I've got a good instinct for how sound is, can, and should be treated on stage.

My specialism is in interactive, interdisciplinary and devised work. I love to join the process early to be part of a piece's development, and to work closely with other designers. I enjoy work that seeks to use sound and music in new ways, conceptually and technically.
In rehearsals for Megalith with Mechanimal.
Photo by Jack Offord.
Skills
I am able to deal with all aspects of a production's sound from initial conception to performance. This includes devising in R&D, recording new sounds, composing and remixing music, working with musicians, voice actors and vocalists, advising on equipment hires and purchases, programming QLab sets for playback, and operating shows as needed.

These are the types of things I've provided for companies in the past:
  • Led foley technique workshops with actors for them to perform live foley on stage;
  • Led utterance workshops with actors for them to create new sounds with their voices;
  • Performed live sound alongside the actors with digital instruments;
  • Used adaptive programming alongside traditional playback to add variety and responsiveness to the soundscapes;
  • Mixed sound and music in 3D binaural to make headphone pieces more immersive;
  • Set up an auditorium with multiple speakers to make sounds move around the room;
  • Precisely scored music to elevate non-verbal storytelling such as puppetry and dance;
  • Collaborated with company composers to create the best sound for playback or extend their compositions with technical means;
  • Created playlists and even whole new tracks just for R&Ds and rehearsals to help stimulate creativity.

Past Productions

Some of my favourite shows I've worked on and what I did for them. For a full list of sound design and composition credits, click here.
Theatre Sound Credits

A full list of my experience in sound design and composition for the stage.
Show Venue


2025
Wild Thing! with Mechanimal Summerhall for Edinburgh Fringe
SpaceJunk with Hours UK Space Agency


2024
Still Life with Mechanimal Menu Spaustuve
Crap at Animals with Mechanimal NNF, Passage Festival


2023
My Uncle Is Not Pablo Escobar with The Hale Brixton House


2022
Beast or God? with Ekata Theatre Kulttuurimylly
The Sleeping Sword Watermill Theatre
The Shoes of Tanboury Southbank Centre
Megalith with Mechanimal Tour
Tracing Waves with Christine Sollie The Place / Resolution Festival
Dwelling Place with Stošija Zrinski The Place / Resolution Festival
When The World Turns (R&D) Remote for Oily Cart
Assembly with Company Three Tall Stories
IXI'IM with Itzatna Arts (R&D) NDT Broadgate


2021
Hanal Pixan with Itzatna Arts The Edge
Kummerspeck (R&D) with Lilac Yosiphon Cervantes Theatre


2020
Believe with Footprint Project (Livestream)
Aika Meidän Tullut On with Ekata Theatre (Livestream)
Atlantic with Emma and PJ The Vaults for Vault Festival


2019
Oedipus at Colonus Cambridge Arts Theatre
random Leeds Playhouse


2018
Rats Etcetera Theatre
Unbelonger with Ekata Theatre Cockpit Theatre / Voilá Festival
Me & My Whale Tour
On Mother's Day with Ekata Theatre Cockpit Theatre
Fatherland with Limbik Theatre


2017
Efêmera with Gaël Le Cornec Southwark Playhouse / CASA Festival
BEARS Royal Exchange Theatre
Constellations Hope Mill Theatre


2016
The Other Marlborough Theatre / Brighton Fringe
Endgame: Ariel Camden People's Theatre


2015
When They Disappear with Onion Lullaby Rich Mix / CASA Festival
Curious Things with Irina Sengelija Omnibus Theatre


2014
Eva Dentro Su Gato Rich Mix / CASA Festival
Colour Omnibus Theatre
Shallow Breath Courtyard Theatre
(c)2022, All Rights Reserved Xavier Velastin unless explicitly stated.