Joseph Mercurio is an Australian lighting designer, educator, and production specialist with extensive experience across theatre, dance, opera, and live performance. His practice is driven by an interest in perception—what is revealed and what remains unseen—and the role of light in shaping audience experience.

Joseph has collaborated with many of Australia’s leading artists and companies, including long-standing work with Bangarra Dance Theatre, contributing to seminal productions such as Ochres, as well as projects with the Australian Ballet, Sue Healey Company, and a range of independent and major theatre makers. His work spans contemporary performance, large-scale events, and major cultural projects, including involvement in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Alongside his design practice, Joseph has held significant leadership roles in technical and production contexts, working as a production manager, tour manager, and venue manager across a range of organisations and international projects.

Joseph is a committed educator with a strong focus on developing industry-ready practitioners. He has held academic positions at institutions including the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and has delivered workshops and lectures internationally, including at the Prague Quadrennial, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Beijing International Biennale.

He is currently Head of Lighting Design and Senior Lecturer at National Institute of Dramatic Art, where he leads the development of lighting and production training within a contemporary performance context.