Lighting is used to create atmosphere and focus attention on certain areas of the stage. There are different types of lanterns like profile spotlights, fresnel spotlights, and floodlights that provide various lighting effects. Safety equipment like safety chains and clamps must be used when hanging lanterns. Gels, gobos, and other special effects can alter the color and quality of light to set the mood. Lighting boards are used to control the various lights through preset cues.

1. Lighting What you need to know

2. What is lighting used for? Lighting is used to create atmosphere To focus our attention to a particular actor, event, or area on the stage. REMEMBER: too much light is better than too little, so when in doubt, add more light!

3. Fading in and out Fading is used as a transition. You can fade out slowly at the end of a performance to leave the audience thinking about it.

4. Lighting without lanterns Lighting with candles…

5. Lighting with candles Give atmosphere There is always a fire hazard Extra light is needed because candles are not strong enough Shining a flashlight on the actors face always gives an interesting effect

6. Finding your light Certain parts of the stage will be more lit that others It is important to go to these parts They may be marked on the stage

7. House lights Houselights are the lights in the auditorium, both on and off the stage Turn them off when you start your production If they are not on a dimmer, turn of the lights that are farthest away from the stage first

8. The Lanterns There are three main types of lanterns: The profile spotlight The fresnel spotlight And the floodlight

9. The profile light It creates a focused beam of light It has a hard, clearly defined circumference

10. The Fresnel spotlight Lights an area with a soft edge

11. The Floodlight The floodlight is used to give general lighting, by flooding the stage with light

12. Safety chain and ‘g’ clamp Used to keep the lanterns from falling Never hang a lantern without them

13. Barn Doors Four metal hinged flaps Used to focus light by not letting the light spill out of a certain area

14. Gels and Color You can use gels to give the light a certain color and change the atmosphere of the play It is inserted into a bracket at the front of the lantern If there are a lot of trees, you could use a green gel.

15. Gobos Gobos are metal cutouts used to create effects. If you add bars to a gobo, it will make it look like a jail.

16. Special Effects Strobe lighting Cyclorama Lasers

17. Strobe lighting Gives the effect of slowing down the action Very effective in fight scenes, or action packed sequences You should always warn the audience if you will use strobe lighting, as it can induce epileptic fits

18. Cyclorama A large screen placed upstage where you can shine a light on. It is used to represent a feeling or a place

19. laser Used to distract the audience Do not let it get into someone's eyes

20. The control desk Can be computerized or manual The sliding switches are used to control the strength and actions of a certain light Upper deck Lower deck

21. CROSS OVER When you have two decks – upper and lower deck, this allows you to set the lower deck and then CROSS FADE using the MASTER control PRESET – You can preset lights to a master preset desk – this allows you to cross fade with ease. FLASH LIGHTS – This gives you instant light as long as you keep your finger on the button

22. let the PATCHING A patching board (Dimmer rack) connects the lighting board with the lanterns There is a on/off switch which helps prevents fuses blowing because they are too hot. There are two plugs for each channel Each channel on the lighting board is linked to 2 plugs on the patching board. These plugs are linked to sockets where the lanterns are plugged in. This allows the lighting designer to change the combination of paired lighting.

23. The Cue sheet This tells you what lights need to be used and when Cue # Cue Channels/levels deck 1 Jack: I never thought it was possible. ( laughs ) 1,3,4,5,7 1,3,7 at half/ 4,5 full upper 2 Exit Jack All fade to black lower

24. bibliography McGuire, Brian. Technical Companion to Drama . Cambridge: Pearson Publishing, 2000. Images.Google.com search

25. By Sam Cohen SRC productions limited