From Ropes To WiFi: The Surprising Story Of Stage Lighting Control

Photo by Mel - On Unsplash

Lighting is vital to stage performances of all kinds, but - from the Renaissance to the 21^st century – what technologies have been used to control it?

Almost all performances make use of lighting, from those in pub theatres to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic games. Lighting helps shape the audience’s experience and tell stories – it can go un-noticed, or be visually thrilling.

In the court theatres of Renaissance Italy, wood and rope technologies controlled candles and oil lamps to create extraordinary stage transformations to amaze and delight the audiences of the time. Victorian theatres used the latest technologies of limelight and gas flames, while the early 20^th century saw sky domes on stage, recreating the natural world, complete with animated cloud projections.

The introduction of electricity allowed far greater control of stage lighting, with experimental systems using cinema organ technology, and the early use of vacuum tubes to regulate power. Today, lighting rigs may have hundreds of individual light sources, and thousands of controllable parameters – brightness, colour, direction, texture, beam shape – all changing continuously throughout the performance.

In this talk, Nick traces the history of the control of light on stage, and the many technologies that have been used. He looks at how lighting is controlled now, and suggests some possible future developments, as performance makers seek to do what they have always done: make the most compelling experience for audiences.

Dr Nick Hunt is a Professor of Lighting Design and Performance Technologies, Rose Bruford College, UK.

After studying for a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nick began his career as a lighting technician and designer for theatre, dance and opera. He moved into academia, teaching lighting design at Rose Bruford College, going on to become Head of School. He is now a research fellow, investigating the performative potential of light, digital performance, and theatre technology history.

Refreshments will be available from 30 minutes before the advertised start time.

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