@The Arts Unit Creative Teachers

Lighting production documentation

Teacher resource developed by The Arts Unit

Documentation

When working with lighting there are a few pieces of documentation that will be useful throughout the process of an arts production.

Key lighting documentation includes:

  • Lantern schedule – a specific list of fixtures used in a production, including the type of light and accessory details.

  • Lighting plan or plot – a scale plan showing the lanterns on specific lighting bars, including the dimmer number or addresses, gel, accessories and any focus notes.

  • Lighting cue sheet – an outline of all lighting cues for the lighting operator, including details of faders, intensity and action or dialogue for each cue.

The video 'WICKED Lighting: Lighting plot' shows how they approached their lighting design and documentation and an example.

WICKED Lighting: Lighting plot

Duration: 03:27
Lighting cue sheet - template.docx
Lighting plan example
Lighting plan example
Lighting cue sheet example
Lighting cue sheet example

Calling lighting cues

In productions with a stage manager, they will call the lighting cues with the specific action or dialogue by saying:

"LX cue 15 ... GO."

'LX cue 15' would be said before the cue and then the lighting operator will activate lighting cue 15 on the word 'GO'.

There may also be a ‘standby’ call before the upcoming cue or group of cues to alert all crew before the actual cue is called.

Spot operator cues might be called by the stage manager or the lighting console technician. If the follow spot operators have a good FOH (front of house) view and rehearsed cues, the stage manager may only call special follow spot cues when required.

The video 'Stage manager calls "cues" for Hairspray' is an example of how the lighting cues are called in a production.


Stage manager calls 'cues' for Hairspray

Duration: 06:18

Stages of an arts production

When putting together an arts production there are 3 key stages

Pre-Production

This includes:

  • concept

  • development of production teams and casting

  • rehearsals

  • publicity

  • design - lighting, sound, vision, costume, set

  • construction - set, costume, sound, props

  • bump in - transfer and set up everything in the performance venue including set, lighting, sound, vision, costumes, props

  • lighting and sound final set up, check and cued for the production

  • technical rehearsal

  • dress rehearsal

  • final directors notes.

Production

This includes:

  • front of house and venue management

  • publicity

  • SHOW TIME!

Post Production

This includes:

  • bump out - pack up or strike the production and remove from the performance venue

  • store or return all costumes, props, lighting and sound equipment

  • finalise all budgets

  • evaluate the production.

There are some key technical terms that are useful to be aware of, including:

  • backstage

  • stage left

  • stage right

  • prompt side

  • opposite prompt

  • downstage

  • upstage

  • wings

  • safety curtain

  • bump in

  • bump out

  • technical rehearsal

  • dress rehearsal.

Theatrecrafts.com provides a detailed glossary of technical theatre terms for further reference.

The video 'Theatre terminology' from Union House Theatre provides some simple definitions of some of these key terms.

Theatre terminology

Duration: 06:40

Third-party content attributions

Anna Warr or other TAU photographer

  • Schools Spectacular images 1-4, photographer: Anna Warr.

Art Express, Operation Art etc

[Title of the artwork], © [Name of student], [Year published], reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • The Shark, © Sue Dawson, 2016, reproduced and communicated with permission.

Creative commons or other images that need attribution - use Open Attribution Builder

Our images

  • Visual arts activity 1 images, Photographer: Sue Dawson.

Our Kids

  • Girl in Garden 1-4, © Sue Dawson, 2020, reproduced and communicated with permission. Provided all acknowledgements are retained, these images may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial educational purposes within Australia only.

Content from artists already licensed with TAU

[Title of work with source link if possible], © [Copyright owner], [Year published], reproduced and communicated with permission.

section 113P

[Title of work with source link if possible], [Creator], © [Copyright owner], [Year published], copied under s113P, accessed [dd mmm yyyy].

  • Butterfly Effects, © James Powditch, 2007, copied under s113P, accessed 24 May 2020.

  • Over the Rainbow, songwriters: E.Y. Harburg / Harold Arlen, lyrics: © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Conexion Media Group, Inc, copied under s113P, accessed 21 September 2019.