Karl Jenkins – Technical Director: “It’s not just language; it’s the whole culture you need to understand” (StageLync Podcast Ep.21)

Karl Jenkins is an accomplished technical director and project manager with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. His career highlights include significant contributions to the critical success of Cirque du Soleil shows worldwide, where he served as Head of Lighting, Project Manager, and Technical Director, specializing in visual technology.

Karl’s leadership style is characterized by a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and strategic vision. He is known for his ability to inspire and lead diverse, world-class teams, fostering an environment where creativity and technical excellence thrive. His approach to management combines meticulous planning with agile problem-solving, ensuring that even the most complex productions are delivered on time and to the highest standards.

Throughout his career, Karl has demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage large-scale projects, guiding them from concept to completion with precision and expertise. His recent roles include Technical Director for Franco Dragone’s iconic productions, House of Dancing Water and La Perle, before taking on the pivotal role of Head of Technical Production at EXPO 2020 in Dubai.

Following his work at EXPO 2020, Karl has continued to lead and technically produce large-scale events, including the World Combat Games Opening Ceremony in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Games Closing Ceremony, the UNTOLD Music Festival in Dubai, the Waterbomb Festival in Dubai, and Dragone’s masterpiece, TERHAL, in Riyadh.

With a keen eye for management, leadership, and strategy, Karl is recognized for his ability to build and lead some of the most talented teams in the industry, consistently delivering technically complex and visually stunning productions across the globe.

 

 

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

Ana Aguliera
Technical Director, Podcast Co-Host -MEXICO
Ana is a Technical Director and Scuba Instructor with a passion for water, technology, and the arts.

She has experience in water, acrobatic, ice shows as well as musicals, opera, theatre and dance. She likes both creation, and operations.
Ana co-hosts the Stagelync podcast.

When she is not working on a production, doing research or curating for the podcast, or recording interviews, you can find her diving, hanging out in nature or catching up with the news in the industry and the arts world. She is also an avid cyclist, swimmer, reader and learner.
Anna Robb
Producer, Founder and CEO of StageLync -HONG KONG
Anna is the Executive Producer for Our Legacy Creations, a Global Live Entertainment Company and the CEO of StageLync.com. Originally from Australia, Anna's 23 year career in live entertainment has taken her around the world. Anna has created shows in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and in many countries across Asia. Always behind the scenes, Anna has been involved in the execution of some of the largest show creations in the world, including “The Beatles: LOVE” by Cirque du Soleil, and “The House of Dancing Water” in Macau. Anna holds a (BA) Honours degree in Design for Theatre and Television.

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Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.

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Ana Aguliera

Ana is a Technical Director and Scuba Instructor with a passion for water, technology, and the arts. She has experience in water, acrobatic, ice shows as well as musicals, opera, theatre and dance. She likes both creation, and operations. Ana co-hosts the Stagelync podcast. When she is not working on a production, doing research or curating for the podcast, or recording interviews, you can find her diving, hanging out in nature or catching up with the news in the industry and the arts world. She is also an avid cyclist, swimmer, reader and learner.