@The Arts Unit Creative Classes
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Stage lighting design basics with Lincoln Gidney
Stage lighting design basics with Lincoln Gidney
Student drama and VET entertainment resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 9 to 12 drama and Years 11 and 12 VET entertainment
What will I learn?
What will I learn?
You will:
learn the fundamentals of lighting design
explore how to apply the fundamentals of lighting design to convey meaning
apply knowledge and understanding to design your own lighting.
Before you begin
Before you begin
Have you ever thought about how the lights are designed for a stage production?
As a performer, the lights are used not only for the audience to see the stage but also to add further meaning to your performance.
Let the light shine on this technical element for you as you explore this Creative Class – Lights up!
Make sure you have a pen and paper on hand or a word document open to make notes as you watch the videos.
- Learn
Watch the video Lighting fundamentals with lighting designer, Lincoln Gidney.
Take notes and then complete the following activities.
Lighting design interacts with the actors, set design and costume design as a mechanism through which we can develop mood, atmosphere, focus, rhythm and energy to drive meaning and engage the audience.
Lighting fundamentals
Duration: 06:31Focus and direction – signalling the audience
Focus and direction – signalling the audience
What do you want to see?
Bringing the lights up on the stage draws the audience into the world of the play and brings their attention and focus to specific stage spaces as required.
Manipulating focus and changing the direction of light helps define the meaning of what is lit.
Natural and normal with general lighting
Side lighting changes the atmosphere
Lights draw focus and the audience's attention
Colour – imparting emotion and meaning
Colour – imparting emotion and meaning
Using colours can transport the audience into new worlds through light. It is an immensely powerful tool in eliciting emotions and highlighting themes within a production.
Write a list of emotions and ideas associated with the following colours:
red
blue
yellow
purple
green
pink
orange.
Cool blue colour can signal night time
Warm red can signify rage or passion
Bright, vibrant and dynamic used to add excitement and energy
Shape and shadow – driving meaning
Shape and shadow – driving meaning
Minimalism or a moment of darkness can be profound in establishing meaning.
A single spotlight can be incredibly engaging for the audience.
The use of a silhouette or shadow on a character can convey a character trait or internal conflict.
Shape and shadow influence lighting design by working in tandem with the performances to highlight significance and drive meaning.
Shadows suggesting an internal struggle
2. Explore
2. Explore
Watch the video 'Lighting fundamentals applied' with lighting designer, Lincoln Gidney, to further apply your knowledge and understanding lighting moments.
Take notes with reference to the annotated examples below.
Key questions when understanding lighting design:
What can I see?
What effects are being used?
What do they make me think?
Apply your knowledge to the images Lincoln has included by answering the questions.
For easier access
For easier access
You will find below the still image frames, notes and questions from the video 'Lighting fundamentals applied'.
You can choose to either pause the video as you watch it or refer to the images below following the video to answer the questions.
Lighting fundamentals applied
Duration: 04:51
Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
Directed by Caitlin Williams
Both characters are lit to draw the audience's focus.
The characters are lit with warm directional light with crisp, straight lines from behind and cool fresh light from the front which creates the idea of the men standing on the threshold of a doorway looking outside, without the use of a set.
The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter
Directed by Lincoln Gidney
The entire scene is lit with a warm general wash.
The bright, clearly visible light focused on the standing character is contrasted with the dull light with a cooler hue on the shrugging seated character representing their opposed emotional states and the imbalance of power and status that exists, suggesting conflict.
Yerma
2018 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production
Think about the shape of the lights.
What colours are being used to develop mood?
Animal Farm
2016 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production
How do the shadows affect the perceptions of the character?
What elements are your eyes drawn to?
Macbeth
2019 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production
What does the purple colouring do to the scene?
How are the characters lit?
What effect do the shadows have?
Macbeth
2019 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production
How do the shadows affect how we see the character?
How does the lack of colour affect the scene?
Yerma
2018 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production
How do the shadows affect how we see the characters?
How does the lack of colour affect the scene?
3. Apply
3. Apply
Activity 1 – Create a design
Activity 1 – Create a design
Pick a moment from a scene or a text you know or have been working on.
Analyse the meanings within the specific moment.
Create a design that incorporates all the ideas you have just learnt about.
How can focus, colour and shape impart meaning?
What can you add to the scene through lighting?
Also consider:
How you can add meaning to this moment through a lighting design?
Is there a moment in the scene of particular importance?
Are there parts of the stage the audience should be looking at?
Is there a prevailing emotion or atmosphere that needs to be imparted?
'Yerma'
2018 NSW Public Schools Drama Company productionActivity 2 – Emotions through light
Activity 2 – Emotions through light
Choose 3 contrasting moods or emotions.
Create a lighting profile to express each mood.
What elements influence the mood of the moment?
How might you develop mood quickly in a production?
Also consider:
How shadow, silhouette or colour can be used to create a specific atmosphere?
How can you create and evoke emotion through lighting design?
4. Extension
4. Extension
Activity – Playing with light
Activity – Playing with light
With permission and help, collect several lamps to use as light sources.
If possible, find some thin materials, coloured cellophane or baking paper you can colour with crayon or marker.
Experiment and investigate the different angles and lighting effects you can create.
Try to make a familiar space appear in an unusual way.
Well done!
You have completed this @The Arts Unit Creative Class.
Be sure to explore all of our @The Arts Unit VET Entertainment Creative Classes:
Be sure to explore all of our @The Arts Unit VET Entertainment Creative Classes:
HSC Hub
HSC Hub
To assist with your HSC exam preparations you might like to also visit the Department of Education's HSC hub.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
"The Birthday Party" by Harold Pinter, directed by Lincoln Gidney - used with permission.
"Copenhagen" by Michael Fryan, directed by Caitlin Williams - used with permission.
"Yerma" 2018 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production. Photography by Anna Warr.
"Macbeth" 2019 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production. Photography by Anna Warr.
"Animal Farm" 2016 NSW Public Schools Drama Company production. Photography by Anna Warr.
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