Lighting

• Aspects to consider with lighting

  • colour
  • focus
  • intensity
  • position and direction
• Colour


  • used to create a range of different effects
  • can show time of day
  • can set a particular moor or atmosphere
• Focus


  • how tight or soft the edge of a beam of light isn
  • tight, sharp edge:
  • highlights a performer on stage
  • soft edge:
  • effective if the light needs blending with other lights
• Intensity


  • how bright or dim the light is
  • can vary from one scene to the next
  • can give the audience ideas of:
  • season
  • time of day
• Position and direction


  • Above
  • a beam of light shining down directly onto an actor
  • casts dramatic shadows
  • Front
  • a beam of light in front of a character
  • lights the actor clearly
  • may wash out their facial features
• Position and direction


  • Behind
  • a beam of light behind an actor
  • places them in silhouette
  • the audience will only see their outline
  • Side
  • a light in the wings
  • lights the performers on stage
  • doesn't light anything else
• Features of lighting

  • special effects
  • texture
  • transitions
• Special effects


  • an illusion or visual trick
  • e.g:
  • quick succession of flashes to create the effect of lightning
  • fading from a warm tone to a cold tone to create the effect of a sunset
• Texture


  • gobos can be used to create textures on stage
  • e.g:
  • can create the image of light coming through a window
• Gobo


  A stencil placed in a light to control the shape of the light
• Transitions


  • the movement between different lighting states
  • e.g:
  • crossfade - where one lighting state fades into the next
  • snap - where one lighting state moves immediately into the next
• Floodlight


  • A light with a wide beam that can cover a large area on stage
  • creates an effect called a wash
• Follow spot

  • A tight beam of light that can be used to highlight a particular area on stage
  • often used to highlight and follow a particular character
• Fresnel


  • A light that creates a soft deam of light
• Gel


  • A coloured filter that can be placed on a lantern in front of a beam
  • changes the colour of the light
• Gobo


  • A metal template positioned in front of a beam of light
  • creates shapes of light on stage
• Par can


  Produces an intense beam of light
• Profile spot


  • A tight beam of light
  • used to highlight an area on stage
• Strobe


  • A light that flashes quickly on and off
  • creates the effect of slow motion on stage
  • a health and safety risk for some people (epilepsy)