Lighting

A good theatre production will contain many different aspects that help it all come together, but perhaps none is quite as important as the area of lighting. Now, if you are a sound or set person do not get too upset; we have sections on the site for you as well. But we stand by our statement that lighting might be the most critical element in theatre production.

Why do we think this? Well, all you really have to do is think about any theatre production, in the past or today, without the presence of any light. It simply cannot be done (of course you playwrights out there now have a bit of a challenge before you). Not only could your audience not see the production taking place, but any efforts put into costumes or sets would also be negated, as the sense of shaping another world could not be seen.

That leaves sound, and as we mentioned there are perhaps a few writers of plays who could develop an intriguing work through the sole use of sound. However, that kind of play would likely only render a few hits among a select audience, and the lit plays would remain the toast of every town. It would be as if the play was being done through a radio or was coming from your Blackberry holster.

At a very basic level, then, lighting is very important. But as everyone involved in theatre knows, the use of lighting goes well beyond an effort to illuminate what the actors are doing on the stage. It also helps to set the mood for the piece, helps the audience connect with a passage of time, highlights a particularly important occurrence on stage, and a dozen other small details. When taken with the rest of the production efforts, lighting helps a theatre production to transport the audience into another place, time, or both so that the full effects of the play can be felt. After all, the lighting is different in a French courtyard than it is in a King West loft and a good lighting designer can transform a stage into either.

Because of the central importance of lighting, you will definitely find that there are numerous options in this area for both large and small theatre companies. That is what this section is all about; assisting both types of production companies in creating the perfect backdrop for their play with the help of the best lighting possible, including information on hangs and finding the best strapping system for securing odd light placements.

Not only are there a lot of different lighting options, but really a company could spend as much or as little on this particular effect as they care to. There are tricks in lighting that can help save smaller companies hundreds and even thousands of dollars; on the other hand, there are specially designed lighting pieces that may cost thousands of dollars in one purchase. Basically, it's the same as with any other business. A company selling homes could spend thousands on realtor web design but it doesn't mean they'll sell a home.

It is also good to keep in mind that, as far as the lighting and its effect on the play, the illumination is not always the only factor. If you have ever been in a production yourself, you know that the wrong type of lighting can actually interfere with the way the production progresses. Lights need to do their jobs as unobtrusively as possible when it comes to the people on stage, both through the intensity of the beam and the production of heat. Failure to pay attention in this area can have the opposite effect than what the lighting was intended to do! If your audience traveled all the way to downtown Toronto from a Mississauga condo you better believe they'll be expecting the lighting to be seamless!

Lighting is a part of the package that makes a good production possible, and we would say it is the most essential element. This section will help you when it comes to many of your lighting issues and needs.