GCSE Drama Design and technical theatre terminology - Lighting

Mood and Atmosphere

The tone or feeling of the play, often created by the music, setting, or lighting.

Colour

The physical appearance through hue and pigmentation.

Shadow

Artistic lighting design can (sometimes) be about what isn't lit, just as much as what is lit; along with any shadows that are created.

Lighting State

The settings and position of lighting to create certain conditions e.g. a bright afternoon, a moonlit night

Rigging

The process of attaching the lanterns to the lighting rig

Intensity

The strength or amount of sound or light.

Levels

The intensity of a lighting or sound level.

Positioning

The location of a lantern in the fly or lighting rig.

Angling

To set, fix, direct, or adjust at an angle.

Focusing

The process of aiming a lighting instrument so that it illuminates a particular portion of the stage.

Lantern

General term for a piece of lighting equipment.

Lamp

Lightbulb used in a lantern.

Fresnel

A type of lantern which produces an even, soft-edged beam of light , several used together can create a 'wash' of light.

Profile

A type of lantern, which produces a narrow, hard-edged beam of light, can be used to create spotlights and hard-edged shapes.

Flood

A lantern without a lens that produces a broad spread of light.

Parcan

A type of lantern which produces a strong beam of light, they are ideal for creating deep colours or special effects.

Birdie

A compact lantern containing a Par 16 lamp. It is called this because it is similar to, but much smaller than, the Parcan, and so is 'one under Par' (golf analogy).

Gel

Film placed in front of a lantern to change the colour of the beam.

Filter

A sheet of plastic usually composed of a coloured resin sandwiched between two clear pieces.

Gobo

A thin metal plate cut out in a pattern and placed in a lantern to project pattern or shape onto the acting space.

Strobe

Device giving a fast series of very short intense light flashes which can have the effect of making action appear intermittent. Because strobe lighting can trigger an epileptic attack in sufferers, the use of a strobe must be communicated to the audience before the performance begins.

Cyclorama

Plain cloth or plastered wall filling the rear of the stage. It used to create a sense of wideopen space/sky, normally by front lighting it using specific effects. The term is often loosely applied to a blue skycloth. It may be curved at the ends.

Gauze

See-through material which cannot be seen through when lit from the front, but can be seen through when lit from behind.

Projection

Slides or video are used to project film, images, or textures. Lighting effects, moving cloud, rain or fire effects can be achieved.

Pyrotechnics

The use of explosions, flashes and smoke on stage.

Lighting Plot

An overhead plan/drawing that shows the type and position of each lantern, as well as any focusing notes.

Cue

The command given to technical departments to carry out a particular operation.

Blackout

Switching all lights out at once, leaving the stage in complete darkness.

Fade

To increase (fade up), decrease (fade down) or eliminate (fade out) gradually the brightness of a lantern.

Cross Fade

A lighting action in which a particular light cue fades down as the next light cue fades up.

Snap

Turning the lights on/off quickly.