Designing a production - AQALighting and sound design

Lighting

Most modern theatres use light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These:

• use less power than traditional lights
• give off far less heat than traditional lights
• can produce a series of different colours
• can be controlled via a computer

However, some theatres still use traditional lanterns, and there are many different types. The colour of these lights is more restricted, as a coloured gel needs to be placed over the light, meaning the light is restricted to one colour for the duration of the performance. Gobos create patterns on the stage and can be useful for setting a scene, eg using branch shapes to show a forest.

The set-up of lighting for a particular moment is called a state - moving from one lighting state to another is called a transition. Intensity is how bright the lights are, usually measured in percentages. A designer should be careful not to use very bright (high-intensity) lighting downstage as it risks the actors squinting as they look out into the audience, while high-intensity lights upstage would improve what the audience can see. The absence of light is also important in lighting design - blackouts are when the stage lighting is switched off for effect, with a snap or with a fade.

Lanterns are heavy and most come with their own safety cables attached to the lighting bars, to ensure that they can be moved or adjusted safely.

Sound

Sound is a powerful way of setting the scene and creating mood and atmosphere. Sound can be very symbolic and communicate key themes and character features to an audience. A repeated idea throughout a performance, shown through sound or visual symbols, is called a motif. Sound can also be layered, with multiple sound effects being used at the same time, and can be altered through:

• echo
• amplitude
• pace
• fade

Designers need to consider whether their sounds are to be played live, or need to be pre-recorded. Diegetic sounds can be heard by the characters as well as by the audience, whereas non-diegetic sounds are ones that the audience can hear but the characters cannot.