Anton Woodward is a stage automation engineer with over 35 years’ experience working at the intersection of engineering and performance, designing motion control systems for theatre, live performance and broadcast environments. He is a Chartered Engineer. He founded AVW Controls Ltd in 1996. He was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013 for services to stage automation.

His work has contributed to well over 100 productions including The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, War Horse and Billy Elliot, as well as projects for major theatres, opera houses and touring productions in the UK and internationally.

He has also contributed to the development of industry practice through work on stage machinery safety standards, including BS EN 17206.

Through AVW Controls Ltd, he continues to support projects in which reliable, safety-critical automation enables movement to be explored as a repeatable, controllable and ultimately creative element of the production.

Profiles and Media

Anton Woodward OBE CEng MInstMC FRSA