1 / 26

Evolution of Theatre Lighting: From Flames to Computers

Explore the fascinating journey of lighting in theatre from ancient Greek candle-lit stages to modern computer-controlled systems. Discover the significant milestones such as gas, electricity, and concentrated filament spotlights that revolutionized stage illumination. Learn about key figures like Adolph Appia and the emergence of lighting designers as specialized professionals.

jude
Download Presentation

Evolution of Theatre Lighting: From Flames to Computers

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The History of Lighting

  2. The 5 Stages of Lighting • Artificial Light • Gas • Electricity • Concentrated Filament Spotlight • Computers

  3. Artificial Light Greek Theatre - Late 19th Century

  4. Greek Theatre • Starting around 500 BC • Trilogies sometimes start at dawn and continue through till sunset

  5. Miracle & Mystery Plays • 15th Century • Indoor (Probably Churches) • Surrounded Stage with Candles (First form of Stage Lighting) • Real Flame • Hell Mouth • Angels to Heaven

  6. Elizabethan Theatre • 16th - 17th Centuries • Globe Theatre - Outdoors • Shakespeare referred to lighting in dialogue

  7. Italian Renaissance 1600 - 1800 Moves Indoors for good

  8. Improvements • 1566 - Serlio places colored bottles in front of candles

  9. Improvements • Indigo Jones uses Reflectors to intensify light

  10. Improvements • Floats • Mechanical Opaque Screens • Mechanical Dimmers

  11. Disadvantages • Entire Theatre Visible • Dirty (Soot) • Not very bright • Very little control

  12. Gas Lighting Late 19th Century

  13. Advantages • So advantageous that it quickly becomes the norm • Brighter • Easy Maintenance • Gives CONTROL • 1st time audience is dark

  14. Disadvantages • Very EXPLOSIVE

  15. Gas Lighting

  16. Electric Lighting 1879 Edison creates the 6W Light Bulb

  17. Electricity • Very popular to Theatre Owners due to Safety • Installed in most theatres within 5 years (runs through old gas tubing)

  18. Advantages • Low Maintenance • Cleaner (no soot) • Higher light intensities • Not as cumbersome

  19. Adolph Appia Modern Stage Lighting has its roots in Appia’s theories

  20. Plastic Expression A 3 dimensional actor moving in a 3 dimensional space

  21. 20th Century Advances

  22. Concentrated Filament Spotlight • Filament tightly wound to provide a brighter light • A LOT BRIGHTER

  23. Post WWII • Solid State Dimming • Transistors • Leads to the invention of the …

  24. Computers • Advantages • Much more complex operations • Able to sync lights with sound • One button operation • Disadvantages • If your computer crashes you’re in TROUBLE • Eliminates jobs

  25. Emergence of the Lighting Designer • Until 1930’s Lighting was done by the Scenic Designer or Master Electricians • As technology grew, Scene Designers would hire assistants to do the lighting • People began to specialize and eventually get credit • 1960’s Lighting Designers were given their own designation in the Design Union

  26. http://www.uno.edu/~jsulliva/Colors/colorbox.html

More Related