RIW RAKKULCHON
THEATRICAL DESIGNER
About
Riw (pronounced Ree-you) is a Set & Costume Designer, Animator and Chef from Bangkok, Thailand.
He/They has worked at Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Hartford Stage, Syracuse Stage, The Old Globe, Asolo Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Alley Theatre, Theatre Squared, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, KCRep, The Acting Company, 59E59, Edinburgh Fringe, Primary Stages, The Public Theatre, Audible Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music amongst others. Broadway Associate Set Design: Pass Over, &Juliet, Parade
He/They also works with designers Wilson Chin, Riccardo Hernandez, Jason Ardizzone-West, Donyale Werle, Santo Loquasto, Dane Laffrey, Clint Ramos and Walt Spangler. Board member of WithAll, a non-profit Organization on a fight to end eating disorders. IG: @riwrdesign,
B.F.A. Ithaca College, M.F.A Yale School of Drama (Donald & Zorca Oenslager Fellowship Award in Design Recipient).
Connecticut Critics Circle Award - Best Set Design - 2023
Member of United Scenic Artist 829.
Artist Statement
As a designer, I approach every project with the belief that the spaces we create has it's own energy. Spaces are not a backdrop, but a vessels that contains the energy of the piece. This goes towards the feeling that it provides to the community it serves. Places where stories are not only told, but felt, questioned, and shared. My work is driven by a commitment to shaping environments that invite audiences into conversation with the world around them. I design to connect: to bridge the distance between performers and spectators, between past and present, between what is known and what must be urgently examined.
The stories we choose to tell in this moment matter, and so does the way we build the worlds that hold them. I am drawn to projects that amplify voices, challenge assumptions, and reflect the complexities within our current existence. This often manifests in my sets being a transformative tactile playground. My practice aim to craft spaces that resonate beyond aesthetics—spaces that embody purpose, carry emotional weight, and make room for collective experience.
Whether working with physical materials or integrating new technologies, I see each design as an opportunity to create environments that transform with the narrative, that breathe with the actors, and that offer audiences a chance not only to witness a story, but to recognize themselves within it.
In every project, I strive to design with intention, care, and curiosity—building worlds that support vital storytelling and contribute to a more connected, thoughtful, and imaginative community.
