A young Bermudian lighting designer said he was “honoured and privileged” to win a Black British Theatre Award for his body of work in Britain.

Ryan Day, 25, said he was unable to attend the awards ceremony because he was entrenched in technical rehearsals, but was thrilled to be recognised.

Mr Day said: “The last few years have been amazing but always challenging.

“To be acknowledged for the work I created is very special, especially being in a group of stiff competition.

“Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend the event as I was in technical rehearsals for a new version of The Red Shoes at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre — a milestone in its own right as it was my 100th production I have worked on.”

His mother, Kim Day, the president of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, received the award on his behalf and read his acceptance speech, which said the award was a great honour and privilege.

Mr Day was one of two Bermudians nominated in the Black British Theatre Awards this month, with Bermudian actress Sedona-Sky Duffy having been in the running for the Best Recent Graduate.

Ms Duffy recently made her West End debut playing high school senior Heather Duke in Heathers the Musical.

Mr Day started his career as a teenager, lighting shows for the BMDS, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Bermuda and the In Motion School of Dance.

After graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he brought his talents to the West End for a concert production of the smash hit Les Misérables.

Mr Day was later brought on by the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company for its latest production of Pericles, which was performed at Stratford-upon-Avon before crossing the Atlantic for a run in Chicago, and a production of The Red Shoes which is on stage until January.

He said that his schedule remains busy, with more shows already on the calendar for the remnants of this year and early next year.

Mr Day explained: “Next for me is Twelfth Night at the National Youth Theatre this December, then a new version of a play named Handbagged which will tour from February to May 2025, before making my debut at The Royal Opera House on a new version of Pimpinone.

“I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to choose what I want to work on; gone are the days I would say yes to anything coming through.”