WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Drama: Designing Drama

UNDERSTANDING YOUR LIGHTING RESOURCES What lighting equipment is available? It is essential to know what resources are available, so you can create a practical design. Typical lighting equipment includes: • lanterns (as we saw on the previous pages) • colour gels and gobos • a lighting desk (a manual board , or computer software) • a lighting rig or lighting stands • a dimmer (unless your school uses only LED lights). Don’t be put off if your school or college does not have lots of lighting equipment. As long as you have at least two different types of lantern and a way of controlling them, you can light an acting area. Ask your teacher if you can run an audit of the available lanterns. This could mean looking up into the rigging and identifying the numbers of different types of lantern, or checking in the storeroom. The following tasks will also help you to document and rig your production. Identifying what lighting fixtures you have and what works best where will avoid having to move lanterns to a completely different area of the rig. TASK 1.3 1 Make notes on the operating equipment you have and any queries about it. (Some examples have been given to start you off.) Lighting desk Lighting rig/ stands Dimmer Lantern accessories Manual or digital ? Number of sockets on the rig? Number and types of stand or boom? Position and type of dimmer rack ? Gobos Barn doors Gels Safety bonds (There must be one for each lantern you rig!) 2 Identify the lanterns available in school (including quantities). Note down ideas on how you might use them in your design, for example: Type How many? Key features and uses Fresnels Soft-edged beam. Best used close to the stage. Barn doors can alter shape and size of beam. Gobos and colour gels can be added. Profile spots Powerful enough to use further from the stage. LEDs Par cans Automated moving lanterns ASSESSMENT CHECK Knowing the equipment you have and how to use it helps you to make good decisions during the development process. This works towards AO2: ‘Apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance.’ FOCUS Organising your equipment and resources. DESIGN TIP If you are not familiar with some of the equipment, learn about it before you start any major design work. Don’t be frustrated if this takes time. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. TASK 1.4 Sketch a simple diagram to show the position, type and angle of rigged lights relative to the stage. Identify gels, gobos and barn doors that are in place. (An example lighting plot is given on page 31.) A lighting safety bond/cable. Chapter 1 Practical Guide to Lighting Design 20