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Theatre lighting is a critical component of stage production, serving to illuminate performers, create mood, and enhance the overall visual storytelling. Its terminology is diverse and technical, reflecting the complexity and creativity inherent in stage lighting design.
There are a variety of names for different types of lighting fixtures, terms for the placement and intensity of stage lights, and terms for the various technologies used in theatre lighting, including lighting consoles, patch panels, dimmers and more. There is also colour theory to learn, terms relating to electrical systems, and specific terms associated with functions such as fade, crossfade, blackout, and more.
LIGHTING TERMINOLOGY
Accent Lighting: Focused lighting used to emphasise a particular object or area on stage.
Ambient Light: The general, natural or artificial light in a space before any theatrical lighting is added.
Articulated Boom: A type of movable arm used to position lights in hard-to-reach places.
Automated Lighting: Advanced lighting fixtures that can move and change colours and patterns automatically, controlled by a lighting console.
Back Projection: The technique of projecting images onto a translucent screen from behind, often used for background visuals.
Backlight: Lighting that comes from behind a subject to create a silhouette or to separate them from the background.
Backlight Wash: Lighting from behind the scene, used to separate subjects from the background.
Balcony Rail: A lighting position located on the front edge of a balcony, used for front lighting the stage.
Barn Doors: An accessory attached to the front of a spotlight to control the spread of light.
Batten (Fly Bar): A horizontal pipe or bar in the theatre, from which lighting fixtures, scenery, and curtains are hung.
Beam Angle: The angle at which light is emitted from a fixture, affecting the size and intensity of the light pool.
Beamlight: A lighting fixture producing a narrow, intense beam of light, used to highlight a specific area or object.
Black Light: A type of light that emits ultraviolet radiation, creating a glowing effect on fluorescent materials.
Cans: Colloquial term for lighting fixtures, often referring to older, simpler types of spotlights (PARCANs). Also, the term for microphone headsets commonly used in the theatre.
Channel: A control or grouping mechanism on a lighting console that allows the operator to control multiple lights together.
Chase Controller: A device that controls the sequencing of lights, typically used to create a dynamic ‘chase’ effect.
Chase: A lighting effect where lights turn on and off in sequence, often used for dynamic or dramatic effects.
Chaser: A lighting effect where lights are turned on and off sequentially to create a dynamic pattern.
Cheat Sheet (Magic Sheet): A quick reference guide for lighting settings or cues during a production.
Clamp: A device used to attach lighting fixtures to the grid or truss.
Colour Mixer: A device or feature in a lighting console that blends different coloured lights to create various hues.
Colour Mixing: Combining different colours of light to create new hues, often done in LED fixtures.
Colour Scroller: An older device attached to a light to change colour gels automatically.
Colour Fade: A gradual transition between different colours in a lighting design, achieved through the control of lighting instruments.
Cue List: A list of the lighting changes required during the show.
Cyc Flood: A lighting fixture designed to evenly illuminate a cyclorama or backdrop.
Dimmer: A device that controls the brightness of a light.
Dimmer Rack: A collection of dimmers in one location, controlling multiple lighting circuits.
DMX (Digital Multiplex): A standard for digital communication networks commonly used to control stage lighting and effects.
Douser: A device used to quickly dim or shut off a light, particularly in follow spots.
Downlight: Lighting directed downwards, typically from overhead fixtures.
Downstage: Refers to the area of the stage closest to the audience.
Dress Rehearsal: A full run of the production with all elements, including costumes, lighting, and sound, as in a live performance.
Edge Blending: A technique used to seamlessly blend the edges of two or more light projections.
Electrics (LX): Refers to all electrical elements in theatre, especially relating to lighting.
Ellipsoidal: A type of spotlight known for its sharp focus and versatility in beam shaping.
Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS): A versatile type of spotlight with a strong, well-defined beam, often used for highlighting specific stage areas.
Fade: The gradual increase (fade in) or decrease (fade out) of light intensity.
Fader: A control on a lighting console used to adjust the intensity of lights.
Colour Temperature: A characteristic of visible light that describes its colour, measured in Kelvin (K). Warmer light has a lower colour temperature, while cooler light has a higher temperature.
Colour Theory: The study of colour and its use in design, crucial for effective lighting design.
Control Protocol: The language or system used for transmitting information between lighting consoles and fixtures, such as DMX512.
Cookie: Short for “cucoloris”; a device used to cast shadows or silhouettes to create a textured lighting effect.
Crossfade: Transition where one lighting state is gradually replaced by another, with the two overlapping.
Cue: A specific instruction for lighting changes, sound, or other technical elements during a performance.
Cue Light: A visual signal used to indicate to performers or technicians when to start their action or cue.
Cue List: A detailed list of all lighting cues in a show, often including timing, intensity, and other parameters.
Cue Stack: A sequence of lighting cues programmed into the lighting console, designed to be executed in a specific order.
Cue-to-Cue: A rehearsal focusing on the technical elements, such as lighting and sound cues, rather than the full performance.
Cyclorama (Cyc): A large curtain or wall, often curved, at the back of the stage, used for projecting light and creating atmospheric effects.Blackout: A lighting cue where all stage lights are turned off simultaneously.
Bleed Through: Unintended light passing through a material, often used to refer to light leakage in scrims or backdrops.
Bounce Light: Light that is reflected off a surface (like a wall or a floor) to create a diffuse, indirect lighting effect.
Build: Gradual increase in the intensity or complexity of lighting to enhance a scene’s mood or impact.
Cable Run: The path and management of electrical cables for lighting instruments.
Cabling: The arrangement and management of electrical cables for lighting fixtures.
Call: Notification of a scheduled time, typically for performers or crew to be present for a rehearsal or performance.Fixture: Any lighting unit or equipment used in the production.
Flash Button: A button on a lighting console that momentarily brings a channel to full intensity.
Flicker Effect: A lighting effect that creates the appearance of flickering light, often used to simulate the effect of flames, candles, or a malfunctioning light source.
Flies: The area above the stage where scenery and lighting equipment are suspended.
Flood Light: A broad-beamed, high-intensity light used to illuminate a large area evenly.
Follow Spot: A spotlight controlled by an operator, used to follow a performer as they move across the stage.
Footlight: A lighting source placed at the front of a stage, near the floor, used to provide illumination upwards onto performers.
Focus: The adjustment of the direction and quality of a light beam.
Fresnel: A type of spotlight with a softer edge, used for general area lighting.
Fresnel Lens: A type of lens used in Fresnel spotlights, characterized by its concentric circular ridges.
Front Projection: Projected images onto a screen or surface from the front, typically from projectors located in the audience or lighting booth.
Gel: A thin, coloured sheet placed in front of a light to change its colour.
Gel Frame: A holder for colour gels that fits into a lighting fixture.
Gobo: A stencil or template placed inside or in front of a light source to create shaped shadows or patterns.
Gobo Holder: A device that holds the gobo in place in a lighting fixture.
Gobo Rotator: A device that allows a gobo to rotate, creating dynamic patterns or effects.
Gobo Wheel: A component in intelligent lighting fixtures that holds multiple gobos for easy switching.
Ground Row: A row of lights placed on the ground, often used to light backdrops or cycloramas from below.Hanging Plot: A diagram showing where each lighting fixture is to be hung in the theatre’s rigging system.
Hard Light: A type of lighting that creates sharp, well-defined shadows.
High Side Lighting: Lighting coming from a high angle at the side of the stage, used to sculpt and define the actors’ bodies.
Hook Clamp: A clamp used to attach lighting fixtures to battens or pipes.
House Fade: Gradual dimming or brightening of the auditorium or house lights.
House Lights: Lights used to illuminate the audience area of a theatre.Incandescent Lighting: Traditional lighting using a filament that is heated to produce light.
Intelligent Console: A specialized lighting console designed for controlling complex lighting systems with automated fixtures.
Intelligent Lighting: Automated lighting fixtures that can move, change colours, and alter patterns without manual adjustment.
Intelligent Mirror: A feature in some automated lighting fixtures that allows for rapid changes in direction and projection.
Iris: An adjustable aperture in a spotlight used to change the diameter of the light beam.
Juker: A tool used to control the dimming of a lighting circuit manually.
Kelvin Scale: A scale used to measure the colour temperature of light sources, with lower values indicating warmer (redder) light and higher values cooler (bluer) light.
Key Light: The primary source of light for a particular area or actor, typically creating the most significant illumination and shadows.
Kicker Light: A light placed to the side or behind a subject to provide definition or highlight contours.
Lamp: The light-producing element within a lighting fixture or bulb.
Lantern: Another term for a lighting fixture, commonly used in the UK.
LED (Light Emitting Diode): A type of lighting instrument that is energy-efficient and can produce a variety of colours without the need for gels.
Light Curtain: An arrangement of lights to create a curtain-like effect, often used as a backdrop or for dramatic reveals.
Lighting Booms: Tall, vertical stands used to mount lights at the sides of the stage.
Lighting Console: The control board or interface used to program and operate the lighting for a show.
Lighting Cue: A specific moment when the lighting changes, as determined by the lighting designer and noted in the script or score.
Lighting Grid: An overhead network of bars and pipes from which lighting fixtures are hung.
Lighting Key: The dominant lighting style or approach for a scene or production.
Lighting Operator: The person responsible for operating the lighting console during a show.
Lighting Plan: A layout (in plan view, from above) showing the individual lanterns, the bars on which they’re hung, their dimmer number, colour and any focus notes, drawn to scale.
Lumen: A measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Luminaire: Another term for a lighting instrument or fixture.
Luminance: The measure of the brightness or intensity of light emitted from a surface, important in determining the visual impact of a lighting design.
Masking: Blocking part of a light beam or stage area to shape the light or hide unwanted areas.
Master Fader: A control on a lighting console that adjusts the overall intensity of all lights.
Mirrorball: A spherical object covered with mirrors, used to reflect light in multiple directions.
Mood Lighting: Lighting that creates a specific atmosphere or feeling on stage.
Moving Light: A versatile lighting fixture capable of changing position, colour, and focus.
Neon Lighting: A type of lighting using neon gas-filled tubes, often for special effects or signage.
Opacity: The measure of transparency or translucency of materials such as gels, scrims, and filters.
Open White: A term used to describe a light without colour gels, producing white light.
Par Can: A simple, versatile type of lighting instrument, often used for concerts or as part of a larger lighting setup.
Patch Panel: A board or panel where lighting circuits are connected to dimmers or control systems.
Patching: The process of assigning control channels on a lighting console to specific lighting fixtures or circuits.
Plotting Session: A planning session where the lighting design is created and refined.
Preset: A pre-programmed lighting state or scene on a console.
Preview: Reviewing and adjusting lighting cues without an audience present.
Production Desk: A workspace in the theatre where the lighting and other technical controls are located.
Profile Spot: A type of spotlight used to project a controlled and shaped beam of light.
Proscenium Lights: Lighting fixtures that are positioned in the proscenium arch, usually to light the front part of the stage.
Reflector: A part of a lighting fixture that redirects light from the source towards the stage.
Rigging: The system used to hang and position lighting instruments above the stage.
Running Plot/Plot Sheet: A list of the cues to be performed by a lighting desk operator, enabling them to make notes about specific actions to perform, and to keep track of the show as it’s running.
Safety Cable: A cable used as a safety measure to prevent a lighting fixture from falling if its primary support fails.
Scrim: A type of fabric drop that can appear opaque or transparent depending on how it is lit.
Shutters: Blades within a light fixture used to shape the light beam.
Side Light: Lighting that comes from the side of the stage, often used to highlight the actors’ profiles or to add depth.
Sidelight Boom: A vertical stand or structure to which sidelights are attached, used to light actors from the sides.
Signal Distribution: The method by which control signals are sent from the lighting console to the fixtures.
Silhouette: A lighting effect where actors or objects are backlit, appearing as dark shapes against a lighter background.
Sky Pan: A large, broad light used to simulate natural light from above.
Smoke Machine (Fog Machine, Hazer): A device that produces a smoke-like atmospheric effect.Soft Light: Lighting that creates a diffuse, gentle illumination with soft shadows.
Special: A lighting instrument placed for a specific effect or to light a specific stage area.
Spike Tape: Coloured tape used to mark positions on stage, particularly useful for marking lighting areas.Spill: Unwanted light that extends beyond the intended area.
Spotlight: A strong, focused light used to highlight a specific performer or area on stage.
Strobe Light: A high-intensity light that produces bright, rapid flashes, often used for special effects.
Swatch: A sample or example of a gel colour used for selecting lighting colours.Tabs: Curtains at the sides of the stage used to mask the wings or as part of the set design.
Technical Rehearsal: A rehearsal focusing on the technical aspects of a performance, including lighting.
Tilt: The vertical movement or adjustment of a lighting fixture.
Three-Point Lighting: A standard method of lighting a subject on stage to achieve dimension, with two lights at 45-degree angles from the subject at the front and one centred light from the subject’s rear.
Throw: The distance light travels from a fixture to the area it illuminates.
Top Light: Lighting that comes from directly above the stage, often used to create depth or highlight the top of objects.
Truss: A modular metal structure used to support lighting fixtures above the stage.
Uplight: Lighting directed upwards, often used to create dramatic effects.
Upstage: Refers to the area of the stage farthest from the audience.
Upstage Lighting: Lighting positioned at the back of the stage, often used to create depth or background illumination.
UV Light: Ultraviolet light used to create glowing effects on stage, particularly with white or fluorescent colours.
Venue Patch: The configuration of lighting connections specific to a particular venue.
Wash: Lighting that covers a large area in fairly even light, used to create general illumination.
Wing Lights: Lights positioned in the wings (sides) of the stage, often used for side lighting.
Wing Space: The areas to the sides of the stage, important for planning side lighting positions.
XLR Connector: A type of connector commonly used for lighting control signals.
Yoke: The bracket or bar on a lighting fixture that allows it to be tilted and rotated.
Zoom Ellipsoidal: An ellipsoidal spotlight with an adjustable beam width.
Zoom Lens: A lens in a lighting fixture that can adjust the size of the beam angle.
Zoom Profile: A type of spotlight with a variable focal length, allowing changes in beam size.
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