Techniques of stage lighting

Abstract

Stage lighting is a unique mixture of art and science which aims to achieve a selective, atmospheric, dimensional illumination appropriate to the style of a particular theatre production. It must do this in terms of three controllable variables—intensity, colour and direction. Satisfactory techniques of organization have been developed for achieving this for the standard British theatre system based on the run of a single production, but many problems are arising from the movement towards the repertoire system. This will require reconsideration of operational methods by theatre personnel and additional ingenuity on the part of equipment manufacturers.