Key terminology

• Spotlight


  Gives a hard-edged effect, can use different colored filters to add color
• Parcan


  Strong harsh beam of light that covers the entire stage, also gives a hard-edged effect
• Fresnel


  General wash of color, but much softer than parcan, can look like natural light
• Floodlighting


  Standard lighting, general wash of color over the whole stage, best used with flat scenery
• Gobo


  Sensor placed over a lantern to project a certain image onto the stage
• Colored gel


  Added in front of lanterns to throw splashes of colour onto the stage
• Microphones


  Hung from ceiling to create a 'wall of sound' that amplifies across the audience
• Surround sound


  Speakers placed around the audience to create an immersive, disorienting sound
• Contextual sound


  Sounds played before the play to set the historical context