Emese Csornai is a theater professional with a visual art background, specialized in installation, performance and light design.
She studied architecture in Budapest and received a BA at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam in 2009. A self-taught theater lighting designer in 2007, she latered mentored with Ellen Knops, and was dramaturg and light designer for the Mono collective from 2010-2012. For six years, she worked for the Monday Match series in Bimhuis, Amsterdam, and with independent productions at Overtoom 301.
Csornai directed the performances On being ill (2013) and Doos (2014) and taught the improvisation techniques workshops The Pool (2012-14) Images in motion (2014) and Performing: Space.
She has designed and lit contemporary operas, dance performances, illusionist shows, spoken word theater and community projects. Some of her collaborators include: Bachzetsis, Julyen Hamilton, Katie Duck, Sabine Molenaar, Kenzo Kusuda, Miri Lee, Khouloud Yassine, Lily Kiara, Marek Jason Isleib, Alfredo Genovesi, Silvia Bennett.
Currently, she works as a freelance light designer and as a house technician at Dock11 and TAK, Berlin.
Emese will be designing and lighting all the performances during the NOW! Festival 2016.