Rose Montgomery
About
Rose Montgomery is an Australian set, costume and props designer, and holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Design for Performance from The National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney). Prior to studying at NIDA, Rose completed a Bachelor of Spatial Design and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Rose works between Australia and The United Kingdom as a freelance designer across theatre, opera, dance, film, television , video games and events.
Awards and Nominations
2021 Recipient of the Loudon Sainthill Memorial Scholarship
2020 Recipient of RN’s TOP 5 Arts ABC Media Residency 2020
2020 Finalist for the JMK Theatre Award (Designer)
2020 Selected for BAFTA Connects (paired with mentor renowned costume designer Phoebe De Gaye)
2017-18 Selected for Sydney Opera House’s MADE Program
Work
Theatre includes: Set Design for I Hate People; Or Timon of Athens (Seymour Centre) 2025, Set and Costume Design for ARIA (Ensemble Theatre) 2025, Set and Costume Designer for Marie Curie the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre) 2024, Graphics Designer for Operation Mincemeat (Spit Lip) 2023, Graphics Designer for Sylvia (The Old Vic) 2023, Graphics Designer for The Great Gatsby NYC (Immersive International) 2022, Graphics Designer for The Burnt City (Punchdrunk) 2022, Designer of Chiaroscuro (Canberra Theatre Centre) 2021, Designer of This Modern Coil (Redfern Pop Up Theatre) 2021, Associate Designer of Hamlet (The Young Vic) 2020, Costume Designer of Uncle Vanya (UK Touring Production) 2019, Designer of Post (The Old Red Lion Theatre) 2019, Set and Props Designer of The Way Of The World (NIDA Theatres) 2018, Designer of The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (NIDA Theatres) 2018, Costume Designer of Me Right Now (Canberra Theatre) 2012.
Opera includes: Associate Designer on LA Philharmonic's Weimar Nightfall: Seven Deadly Sins (Walt Disney Concert Hall) 2021.
Film/Television includes: Production Designer of Short Film 'Glove' (by Belinda Bromilow) 2023, Design Assistant on The Great Season 3 (Hulu) 2022, Production Designer of Svengali (Badlands Productions) 2021, Set Decoration Assistant on Pieces of Her (Netflix) 2021, Set Decoration Assistant on Thor Love and Thunder (Marvel) 2020/21, Art Department and Wardrobe Assistant on Home & Away 2020, Properties Master of The Home Team (AFTERS Pilot) 2020, Design Intern for graphics designer Annie Atkins 2018/19, Wardrobe Assistant on All About E (Girls' Own Pictures) 2013.
Music Videos include: Production Designer of Lime Cordiale's Reality Check Please.
Events include: Graphic Designer for Winter Wonderland 2022 and 2023, Designer for DJ Flume's European Tour pop-up stores 2020.
Design Assistant for: Anna Fleischle, Jon Bausor, Tom Scutt, Ben Stones, Michael Levine, Peter McKintosh, Chloe Lamford, Laura Hopkins, Mel Page, Michael Hankin, and more.
Press
I HATE PEOPLE; OR TIMON OF ATHENS - The York Theatre, Seymour Centre
"The very clever multifunctional set by Rose Montgomery reflects both the halcyon days of Athenian civilisation already facing the abyss and today’s broken-down, financially-stricken State."
"The very clever multifunctional set by Rose Montgomery reflects both the halcyon days of Athenian civilisation already facing the abyss and today’s broken-down, financially-stricken State."
— The Scoop
I HATE PEOPLE; OR TIMON OF ATHENS - The York Theatre, Seymour Centre
"Seated in front of the thrust stage of the York, savouring the wit and spectacle of Rose Montgomery’s set of scattered, dilapidated marble columns, builders’ scaffolding and tarps; with Saint Clair’s atmospheric, ever-changing lighting, it’s possible to imagine how magical it would have been in Leura – because it’s pretty damn magical in that cavernous, characterless auditorium."
"Seated in front of the thrust stage of the York, savouring the wit and spectacle of Rose Montgomery’s set of scattered, dilapidated marble columns, builders’ scaffolding and tarps; with Saint Clair’s atmospheric, ever-changing lighting, it’s possible to imagine how magical it would have been in Leura – because it’s pretty damn magical in that cavernous, characterless auditorium."
— Stage Noise
ARIA - Ensemble Theatre
"Rose Montgomery’s set design is appropriately stylish for the kind of affluence being explored, along with her excellent work on costumes, telling in an instant, so much of what we need to know about these individuals."
"Rose Montgomery’s set design is appropriately stylish for the kind of affluence being explored, along with her excellent work on costumes, telling in an instant, so much of what we need to know about these individuals."
— Suzie Goes See
ARIA - Ensemble Theatre
"Rose Montgomery’s finely detailed living room set impresses with many framed family photos, ice buckets with champagne, plenty of finger food, and a very necessary exit to Monique’s much beloved garden.
"Rose Montgomery’s finely detailed living room set impresses with many framed family photos, ice buckets with champagne, plenty of finger food, and a very necessary exit to Monique’s much beloved garden.
Montgomery’s costumes help to give each character their distinctive look, and the work of Matt Cox’s lighting and David Bergman’s soundscape keep the drama tight."
— Sydney Arts Guide
ARIA - Ensemble Theatre
"Set and costume designer Rose Montgomery is also at the top of her game with Monique’s elegant living room and equally chic black and white outfit. Then there’s Chrissy’s ghastly sub-Laura Ashley frock, Judy’s very Utzy black suit, and Midge’s minimal red tube dress and $300 hair. Telling details in the brothers’ wrist-wear stand out to comical effect: Daniel’s multi-coloured Tay-Tay friendship bracelets, Charlie’s pistachio Apple Watch, and Liam’s macho metal – Rolex Submariner? Whatever – each element is perfectly judged."
— Stage Noise
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre
"Rose Montgomery’s set design is a masterclass in the power of simplicity: a rotating staircase on wheels becomes Curie’s laboratory, a classroom in the Sorbonne, a factory staircase, the outside of a building, and a symbolic representation of the passing of time."
"Rose Montgomery’s set design is a masterclass in the power of simplicity: a rotating staircase on wheels becomes Curie’s laboratory, a classroom in the Sorbonne, a factory staircase, the outside of a building, and a symbolic representation of the passing of time."
— Theatre Vibe UK
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre, London
"The design of the set (Rose Montgomery) was also incredibly interesting. With moving parts and little to no blackouts, it was a tough job to ensure that the changing of set pieces was done successfully, but the way it was incorporated into the show added to the atmosphere and enhanced the performance. The set appeared simple, with chalkboards and science equipment being nowhere near glamorous, but clearly, every piece was designed and made precisely."
"The design of the set (Rose Montgomery) was also incredibly interesting. With moving parts and little to no blackouts, it was a tough job to ensure that the changing of set pieces was done successfully, but the way it was incorporated into the show added to the atmosphere and enhanced the performance. The set appeared simple, with chalkboards and science equipment being nowhere near glamorous, but clearly, every piece was designed and made precisely."
— Adventures In Theatreland UK
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre, London
"The set and costumes, by Rose Montgomery, are excellent, offering moments of light and shade.They come into their own when the glowing property of radium is both celebrated and feared."
"The set and costumes, by Rose Montgomery, are excellent, offering moments of light and shade.They come into their own when the glowing property of radium is both celebrated and feared."
— Lou Reviews UK
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre, London
"The intelligent showmanship of the production (Rose Montgomery’s set of sliding staircase and screens makes an elegant backdrop for some highly impactful projections by Matt Powell, while Prema Mehta’s lighting uses shadow to fascinating effect) means that Curie’s moral dilemma of having discovered an element that can simultaneously heal and destroy humans feels real and focused."
"The intelligent showmanship of the production (Rose Montgomery’s set of sliding staircase and screens makes an elegant backdrop for some highly impactful projections by Matt Powell, while Prema Mehta’s lighting uses shadow to fascinating effect) means that Curie’s moral dilemma of having discovered an element that can simultaneously heal and destroy humans feels real and focused."
— What's On Stage UK
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre, London
"Rose Montgomery’s set design swivels from trains to labs and there is also a revolving staircase. It all leaves your head spinning."
"Rose Montgomery’s set design swivels from trains to labs and there is also a revolving staircase. It all leaves your head spinning."
— The Guardian UK
Marie Curie The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre, London
"Rose Montgomery’s constantly moving set, paired with Matt Powell’s projections of Marie’s handwritten journal entries looks impressive, and makes the small space feel like it’s hosting a much larger musical."
"Rose Montgomery’s constantly moving set, paired with Matt Powell’s projections of Marie’s handwritten journal entries looks impressive, and makes the small space feel like it’s hosting a much larger musical."
— Theatre Weekly UK
Punchdrunk's The Burnt City - Woolwich, London
"The set, with attention to the smallest detail, has an intimate filmic beauty."
"The set, with attention to the smallest detail, has an intimate filmic beauty."
— The Guardian UK
This Modern Coil - Redfern Pop Up Theatre, Sydney
"The use of gravel by set designer Rose Montgomery added an especially delicious aural experience, with every crunch-under-boot ricocheting through the audience"
"The use of gravel by set designer Rose Montgomery added an especially delicious aural experience, with every crunch-under-boot ricocheting through the audience"
— ★★★★- stateoftheart.net
Chiaroscuro - Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
"Rose Montgomery’s setting makes effective use of the limited space, and is successful in suggesting the disarray of an artist’s studio"
"Rose Montgomery’s setting makes effective use of the limited space, and is successful in suggesting the disarray of an artist’s studio"
— Australian Arts Review