Plays in a naturalistic style often use lighting to create the illusion of real life, while non-naturalistic performances often use more theatrical lighting effects. Lighting can support the style of a production. For example, the colour red might be used to represent love or romance.
In some productions, lighting can be used to communicate themes or provide a symbolic dimension to a performance. Lots of quick lighting cues can provide an exciting, dynamic energy to a performance, while slow fades can create a more calming effect.
Lighting can also be used to influence the pace of a piece of theatre. By lighting different areas of the stage, a lighting designer is able to guide the audience’s eye. Lighting design is particularly effective in focusing the audience’s attention. For example, to create a cold, damp jail cell, a lighting designer might use a cool, blue light with a low intensity. Lighting can help to create mood and atmosphere on stage. On-stage performers appreciate the comfort of LEDs, as they emit very little heat and they rarely need replacing.Darker blue light is used to show that it is night, contrasted against the warm lighting from ‘indoors’, in this Calderon Theatre performance of West Side Story Creating mood and atmosphere LED lighting is the most energy-efficient way of lighting an event. We recommend conventional lighting for conferences, company events or large seminars where there’s only one person speaking at a time. Unlike automated lighting, conventional lighting fixtures provide only one function, and that's illumination. It’s perfect for events in a theater, nightclub, concert hall or church. Types of Stage LightingĪutomated lighting can be a flexible and economical alternative to stationary lighting. – This lighting is used to wash an area of the stage with soft or harsh light. – These lights create depth and separate the performer with the background. Visibility is the primary function of stage lighting: making sure the audience can see the part(s) of the stage that the director and/or the lighting designer. – These shine the light on the top of the performer’s head, neck and shoulders so you can see their facial expressions. – Primarily used to highlight the sides of the performer’s body. – These lights are the primary source of lighting for the event. Most stage lighting designers focus on five main positions of stage lighting. Lighting has the ability to change the mood of a crowd, whether it’s slow and mellow or colorful and upbeat. Composition:įor events like plays, the lighting director will work closely with the scene designer to make sure the background and important props or people are visible to the audience. Motivation:įor most events, lighting designers strive to make the light look natural for the environment and setting. Staging lighting provides visibility and direction for where the audience should direct their attention. Stage lighting provides four main functions at events: Visibility, Motivation, Composition, and Mood. From conferences to concerts, or sales meetings to church services, stage lighting can be used for any type of event. Lighting can communicate emotion using color, texture and different amounts of light.Īn experienced lighting designer can transform a simple event into an exciting experience.
Taking a deeper dive, we find that we can direct someone's focus with light drawing their eyes around the stage. It’s a way to increase attention at your event and used to highlight people, stage backdrops and props, and more! Stage lighting is lighting that is needed to light up a stage, and it’s a powerful tool for all events.