Lighting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Lighting is one aspect of theatre that doesn't always get much attention, people generally only notice it during a play if it goes wrong. Designing the lighting for a production is however an important creative part of the overall experience enjoyed by the audience. On Sunday I found Jon Churchill in a familiar position, up a ladder adjusting the lights at Progress Theatre. Jon has lit many shows over the years at Progress his but his most recent ones have been Mindgame and Whats Wrong with Angry.

There are technical challenges common to all productions like avoiding 'black holes', a dim patch where part of the stage is not lit properly. In addition to these each production brings very different tests for the lighting designer. Whats Wrong with Angry was perhaps more challenging for the lighting operator than the designer as there were hundreds of cues when the lighting had to be changed but the lighting itself was relatively straightforward with generally only small parts of the stage having to be lit at a time.

Mindgame was completely different in that there were only two changes but the lighting had to change very slowly from portraying a country hospital to a more industrial office.

Jon described the lighting for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead as more subtle. The whole stage has to be lit (so important to avoid those black holes) and there are also the different doors mentioned in last week's post to light. The set is minimal so different states have to be portrayed by the lighting like sunset, dusk, outdoors and different indoor settings,  there is even a call for an 'ethereal' effect.

If you would like to find out more about theatre lighting and even have a go yourself Jon is running a workshop at Progress Theatre on Sunday 28th October (10am-4pm)  You will learn how to work with the script, the set designer, the director and cast. Learn a little about colours, moods and special effects then pull everything together on the Progress stage. If you'd like to attend the workshop then email pantofool@hotmail.com. It is intended for Progress members but you always join if you are not already a member!

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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard 15th - 20th October 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for Rumours by Neil Simon, Thursday 1st November, 7pm or Sunday 4th November, 2pm Progress Theatre

7th Annual WriteFest 14 - 17 November 2012, Progress Theatre

Auditions for New Directors’ Double Bill Wednesday 5 December, 7.30pm or Sunday 9 December, 2pm, Progress Theatre

Progress Youth Theatre presents For the Love of a Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker 10-15 December 2012, Progress Theatre

Details of all our productions and auditions can be found on our website.