Pablo is the lighting designer in charge of the main ballet company – Ballet Nacional Sodre – in Uruguay. Right Now, he’s working on upcoming tours for the company which will be Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and also working on designs for local productions for when the quarantine and lockdown finishes.

Immediately before the Coronavirus pandemic, the company was performing the Mauricio Wainrot's ballet adaptation of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire and the next productions in the schedule would have been Francesco Ventriglia's Wizard of Oz, the classical ballet Giselle and a new production based on Mario Benedetti's novel, La Tregua.

Pablo also works as a teacher of lighting workshops in a multidisciplinary art school.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Pablo: I am at home in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay – the smallest country in South America.

Robe: How are you spending time whilst isolating / on lockdown?

Pablo: I'm implementing online classes for my students at the art school and attending different webinars and online courses.

Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do whilst in isolation?

Pablo: Spending time with my family, cooking, and developing methods to save time at work.

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis? Like neighbours or others in the family?

Pablo: I’m looking after my family: my son, my wife and my dog, and also taking care of everyone around me, hoping that this situation will pass soon.

Robe: Has anyone particularly inspired you since this crisis started?

Pablo: I am inspired by all the artistic and cultural initiatives that different communities around the world have developed: groups of musicians performing pieces from their own homes; ballet companies that have designed choreographies while being isolated from each other … and all the artists who contributed with their creations to help us get through this moment. Their energy has underlined the importance of art in our lives.

Robe: What has been your favourite book / movie / Netflix or TV series / viral video / Games / music?

Pablo: My top readings are the collection of horror stories by Edgar Allan Poe, and I also love a lot of different titles related to my field like Light Bytes by Wayne Howell and La luz, melodía del arte escénico written by several lighting designers.

In terms of series, I really enjoy documentaries and content like Abstract – The Art of Design (an in-depth look at computers and contemporary design with some of the world's most highly regarded designers) and The Defiant Ones (four-part American TV documentary series, directed by Allen Hughes focusing on the careers of and partnership between Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, co-founders of Beats Electronics).

Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this crisis?

Pablo: I will visit my parents and take a walk with my family on the beautiful coast of the River Plate. We miss the sunsets enjoying the local mates – our national essential drink.

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?

Pablo: Stay positive, stay balanced, be united and give help to those who need it.