Roberto Esquenazi Alkabes
Hey! I’m Roberto, a lightingn designer from Panama City, Panama. My work lives at the intersection of light, space, and human perception across mediums like the stage stage, in architecture, or somewhere in between. I started out in theatre, earning my degree in Lighting and Video Design from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, and have since worked across musicals, opera, live music, and immersive performance. I recently completed my MFA in Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and I’m currently a designer at Tillotson Design Associates.  

To me, light is storytelling. It shapes how we feel, how we move through space, and how we connect to what’s around us. I approach design as both an emotional and analytical practice, not just about what’s seen, but also about what’s felt and experienced. I wouldn’t call myself a lighting designer, more like a darkness designer; fascinated by the moments in between, the interplay of shadow and perception. Whether I’m designing for a stage production or a commercial building, I aim to create experiences that resonate deeply and linger long after the final blackout.


2018- © Roberto Esquenazi Alkabes