Lighting design preparers are dedicated spectators and dedicated participants in every performance and event. They work hard behind the scenes to discover how to make theatre better for everyone. As the theatre people are taught the art of theatre, and enjoy the endless charm of the stage, their hearts are naturally filled with thoughts and understanding of art and the stage.
There are total three performance halls in Sydney Opera House, each one is irreplaceable with different size, construction style and functions. Therefore, the kinds of the illuminares facilities and model are also different according to the halls features.
Concert hall
Concert hall where accommodate around 2679 people is the biggest hall in Opera House, it generally uses to hold various performance such as various symphony, chamber music, chorus, pop concerts, and even circus acrobatics.
The entire layout of the concert hall is somewhat like an indoor stadium, with the stage surrounded on all sides by the audience, which is very large and the stage is small, with no depth and open space, especially with a high ceiling. There are dozens of individual suspension points above the stage, which can be matched at will to suspend various truss stands, curtains, scenery pieces, sound, sound baffles and other equipment. This open stage design is a challenge for performances, both acoustically and in terms of choreography and lighting. The hall was originally planned as an opera hall, but was later converted into a music hall because the space was too wide for opera and other stage productions.
One feature of the concert hall lighting is worth mentioning, that is, hundreds of LED lights embedded in the top of the entire theater. These lamps can not only adjust the brightness, but also adjust the color and color temperature, which can be used as field lights or as part of stage lighting to create atmosphere. When they change colors at the same time, the huge crown gleams like a jewel in a crown. The theatre is face-lit and back-lit with imaging lights, and because of the variety of genres performed here, it is equipped with many LED bee-eye lights and two sets of control equipment.
Jan Sutherland Theater
The opera showroom is rename of Joan Sutherland theater to in memory of famous Australian soprano. This hall is slightly smaller than the concert hall, with 1547 seats, is a standard framed stage, mainly used for opera, ballet and modern dance.
Since it was originally designed as a concert hall and later transformed into an opera hall, there are also some problems. The biggest problem is that there are no sub-stages on both sides of the stage, and the depth is very small, only 21.85 meters. Therefore, the relocation of the stage set, the placement of side lights and flowing lights, and the actors' going on and off the stage have caused great inconvenience.
Such a congenital defect is almost unimaginable in an international theater. Therefore, almost all the plays performed in this theater are tailor-made, and the stage designer faces a huge challenge. He must understand the size and limitations of the theater very well, and consider the problem of changing the set from the very beginning.
The location and angle of the two face lights in the theatre are not ideal.
One is on the lip of the first floor auditorium box, which is the right distance from the stage, but not high enough to fill the back of the stage with light and form shadows, affecting the control of the light area. The second face light is at the back of the second tier auditorium, too far from the stage and at too high an angle to take care of the stage entrance area. There is another overhead light above the bandstand that can be used as a face light, and it is very well positioned and angled, but the bottom is right against the curved frame of the bandstand, making it impossible to use the lift, so it is very inconvenient for the light. The earlight position is not bad, but it was converted from the original box and the lamps are exposed, which affects the overall aesthetics.
There is also no fixed sidelight structure as there are no sub-stages at the upper or lower doors of the opera hall. There are 608 silicon circuits for the lighting, with luminaires dominated by imaging lights and spotlights.
Drama house
The Drama Hall is a small framed stage, mainly for performing traditional dramas. Due to the small stage, in order to better control the light area, the lamps in this hall are mainly imaging lamps of various angles, with a small number of spotlights.
Play House
The drama hall is mainly used for small theatre plays, one-act plays and children's plays. Due to the small space in this hall, the stage has no side wings and no space for boom lift at the top, so the performance set here is relatively simple and all the changes in space are more dependent on lighting to complete, which presents a greater challenge for lighting.
Studio
The Studio is a square 'black box' that allows the stage and audience areas to be organised at will, with retractable audience seating. The room is topped and surrounded by special studio light poles, which can be automatically adjusted in position and height. With a wide range of lighting types, both conventional and computerised, this is one of the most flexible rooms. It can accommodate a wide range of events such as experimental theatre, small solo concerts, acrobatics and magic.
Conference Lighting
For conference lighting in theatre, the safety of the equipment and the stability of the system is crucial. In terms of lighting selection, lamps with low heat should be chosen to provide a comfortable meeting environment for the participants. On-site layout, should avoid harsh lighting angles, to ensure that the stage is evenly lit, at the same time, must avoid obvious shadows on the stage; in the venue lighting layout with broadcast needs, to protect the site lighting effects at the same time, need to take into account the requirements of the broadcast of the lighting
If you have a plan to make a business place of theatre, do you have any idea of lighting project now?
