Lighting Plans

The three lighting plans shown here give the lighting rig for Sunset Song on tour, based on the plans created for the opening at Cumbernauld Theatre. The rig has been shown on three plans for ease of reading, but in fact the lights rigged on the same bars.

The plans should be read as follows:

The large square at the left of the plan represents the stage floor, 6m x 6m. At the top left hand corner of the square is a triangular section. This represents the ‘hill’ of the set.

The vertical lines are scaffolding bars on which the lights are hung.

The lights are represented by various shapes, corresponding to different sorts of lanterns:

• A fresnel is a lantern that gives a wide, even light and is used for lighting large areas. It is represented by a short rectangle with a rough end (where the light is emitted). These come in various sizes, and the larger the rectangle the larger, brighter and wider the light.
   
  
• A spotlight is used for harder, more tightly focused light. It is represented by a rectangle that narrows to one end (where the light is emitted). There is also one ‘765’ - a large spotlight represented by a rectangle that narrows in the middle.
   
  
• A par-can (‘par’) is an unfocusable, very bright, hard light. It is represented by an elongated semicircle. The light comes out of the flat end.
   
  
• A birdie is a small version of a par-can (so called because a birdie is one below par... ...) On these plans they look like small par-cans.
   
  
• Small spotlights of an old sort are used for the sky cloth as they are small and focusable. These are represented by a circle with a rectangle attached (the light is emitted at the rectangular end).
   
  
• A flood light literally floods the stage with a very wide, uncontrollable beam of light. It is represented by a square on these plans.
   
  

A key is given at the right hand side of each plan, identifying the use for the light and the colour of the gel used (for example LEE 196, or O/W for open white or no gel)

The audience should be imagined as to the right of the stage floor on the plan, i.e. underneath where the key is written.

Part  1: Lighting Plans
Part  2: Lighting Plan One - Birth
Part  3: Lighting Plan Two - Moon
Part  4: Lighting Plan Three - Wedding