In this project, you're going to design a lighting plan for a theatre play. You are required to submit this project to your teacher for marks. Very carefully, read the
whole project and how to do it. Be sure to read the requirements and rubric,
they explain the expectations for this project and how it will be
marked. Click here if you need tips on how to create a good project!
Situation
Theatre plays tell a story with live actors. Plays are usually held indoors on stages. The theatre stage must be lit so that the audience can see the actors. Stage lighting designers decide on the type and sequence of lights,
in order to create a lighting design that contributes to the mood and emotions of the play.
A youth theatre company in your community needs a volunteer to create a lighting design for their upcoming play. Can you make a lighting design plan that meets the play director’s requirements?
Project Task
Design a lighting plan for a theatre play. The director of the play would like to incorporate a variety of special lighting effects to create particular moods in different parts of the play.
The lighting design should include pictures as well as written information. Search online for “Examples of stage lighting designs” if you are not sure what they look like.
As you create your lighting design, ask yourself these questions:
What are the characteristics of light and how does my lighting design use these characteristics?
How can I change the direction and quality of light to create special lighting effects?
Method
Choose the way you would like to share your lighting design plan. Here are some ideas from which you can choose:
Draw a plan on paper with pencil, paper, and coloured pencils.
Design a plan in a computer drawing program such as Adobe Photoshop or Gimp.
Build a model of the stage lighting using recycled objects around your house.
Write a descriptive report.
Use other creative ideas, but check with your teacher first!
Requirements
The play director’s stage lighting requirements are listed below. You must clearly communicate how you will meet these requirements in your theatre lighting plan, so you should strongly consider using these requirements as a way to organize your theatre
lighting plan. For example, you might choose to answer the questions in detail as part of a descriptive report. Or, you might draw pictures with notes added for extra explanation. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you meet all the requirements!
Curtain Design
A curtain must be hung behind the stage so that when actors are backstage, they are hidden from the audience. Choose an appropriate material (would you use an opaque, transparent, or translucent material) for the backstage curtain and explain the scientific reason for why you made that choice.
One scene in the play is set on a foggy day. The director would like the actors to be present on stage for this scene but hidden from direct view. The director would like the motions of the actors to appear as shadows through large curtains, instead
of the actors being directly visible by the audience. Choose an appropriate material (would you use an opaque, transparent, or translucent material) for the shadow curtains and explain the scientific reason for why you made that choice. Where will the curtains, actors, and lights need to be positioned to
create shadows?
Stage Image Design
During one scene of the play, an actor feels very confused. The director would like to create a mood of confusion with lighting by creating many images at different angles of the actor on stage. The audience would be able to see many images of the
actor at once. How would you create or reflect multiple images of one actor? How would you create a feeling of confusion with lights? Explain in detail the scientific reasons for why you made these choices and how it would work.
Spotlight Design
There are three different types of spotlights in the theatre: red, green, and blue. Many scenes in the play require white light to represent daylight. One scene in the play requires yellow light to simulate a sunrise. Another scene in the play
requires turquoise light to simulate a tropical ocean. Plan the combination of coloured lights that you will use to create these lighting situations.
The director wants some spotlights to be small and focused, and other spotlights to cover a wide area. What kind of lenses would you use in spotlights to create each situation? Explain the scientific reasons for your choices.
Projected Image Design
During one scene of the play, the director wants to project images of a city on a screen behind the actors. Choose an appropriate projection technology for the projected images, and explain how the lights within the projection technology work.
Note that when you submit anything to your teacher, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE DOCUMENT TITLE. For example, you might title it something like this:
