Light plot is a crucial part of any performance. In modern days theatrical lighting designers use a number of technical means that allow them to perform pure magic on stage. Designers’ boldest ideas are put into practice on stage by workers of the electrical department that belongs to the stage department. Alexander Nikolaevich Lisitsa, head of the electrical department told us about his work.
- Our goal is to deliver the show to the audience the way it was designed by the creative team and keep its image the same since the first night. Obviously this requires a lot of work, because there is a lot of things backstage that need to be taken care of and that the audience does not see. We need to keep the entire lighting equipment stock up and running, there is wiring and operating systems that need maintenance.
In any kind of performance, classic or contemporary, Lighting Designer cooperates with the production team to deliver the shared vision. Based on the artistic concept of the production we develop work specification for the venue, with regard to the technical capacity of the venue. All devices need to be ready by the time the works start. Time frames for preparations may vary: sometimes the tech crew has to make it in a very short period of time and then it gets intense, people have to work night shifts as well.
Nowadays the equipment stock of our department consists of classic lighting instruments as well as automatic ones that do not require manual control. A lot of characteristics may be changed from the lighting desk, like intensity, width, color, direction etc. Besides that, designers use a lot of video projection nowadays, and video projectors fall into our department’s responsibility. In recent years creative teams have been successfully introducing modern technology into opera and ballet performances in order to liven up traditional sets. Here it is very important to keep the balance, and avoid making a movie out of video projection, which will distract the audience.
There are two venues in our theatre, and both are functional. The Small stage has no wings, and all our work and all instruments are visible to the audience. This is why we have to be very discreet. This work requires discipline. We have to be very accurate and quiet. The absence of curtains creates certain discomfort for us while giving the audience an opportunity to see our inner workings.
One of the most difficult, yet spectacular performances from the Main stage repertoire is Coppélia ballet. It was clearly a massive experience and it turned out as a successful production. Technically speaking, Coppélia is a very demanding performance. The sets are equipped with lighting instruments of different kinds. We used twenty two projection units, ten media servers, more than sixteen thousand values changed at once. This production is difficult in terms of installation and requires precise configuration, but the result is amazing. In this case the creative team managed to reach the above mentioned goal, which is keeping the balance between classic and modern approach.