Question 1: Describe how you would use lighting to create a spooky or eerie atmosphere on stage. Include at least two specific lighting techniques or effects in your answer.

Answer: Use dim, bluish or greenish lighting to create a cold, unsettling mood. Incorporate fog or haze to diffuse light and create shadows. Use sudden spotlights to highlight specific characters or objects for dramatic effect.

Question 2: Explain the purpose of a spotlight in a theatrical production. How does it help the audience's understanding of the scene?

Answer: A spotlight isolates and highlights a performer or object, guiding the audience's attention and emphasizing important moments or characters.

Question 3: Identify and describe three different types of stage lighting instruments commonly used in theatre productions.

Answer: Fresnel lanterns produce soft, diffused light suitable for general lighting. Ellipsoidal reflector spotlights (ERS) produce a sharp, focused beam for highlighting. PAR cans create a broad, intense wash of color and light.

Question 4: Sketch a simple lighting plan for a scene set in a daytime outdoor park. Label the key lighting sources and describe their purpose.

Answer: A basic sketch would show natural light sources (e.g., 'Sun' represented by a large arrow from above), with additional fill lights to mimic daylight fill, and perhaps a soft fill to simulate ambient light. The purpose of each source is to create a bright, natural outdoor atmosphere.

Question 5: Discuss how lighting can be used to indicate a change in time of day on stage. Provide two specific examples.

Answer: Lighting can simulate morning with soft, warm light and gentle shadows, or evening with orange or red hues and dimmer lighting. For night scenes, use blue or deep purple lighting with lower intensity.

Question 6: What is the purpose of using coloured gels in stage lighting? How can they affect the mood of a scene?

Answer: Coloured gels change the hue of the light, creating specific atmospheres or moods. For example, red gels can evoke danger or passion, while blue gels can suggest calmness or sadness.

Question 7: Draw a simple lighting setup for a tense, dramatic moment where the character is in shadow, with a single light source highlighting their face. Describe your sketch.

Answer: The sketch should show a stage with a single spotlight directed at the character's face from an angle, creating strong shadows on other parts of their body and the stage. The background remains dark to focus attention on the character.

Question 8: Describe how the use of lighting can help establish the mood at the start of a scene. Give two contrasting examples.

Answer: Bright, warm lighting can create a cheerful, welcoming mood, while dark, cold lighting can suggest mystery or danger. For example, a sunny yellow wash for a happy scene, versus blue or black for a tense moment.

Question 9: Explain the concept of 'special effects' lighting and give two examples of how they might be used on stage.

Answer: Special effects lighting involves techniques like strobe lights, moving lights, or projection effects to create illusions. Examples include simulating lightning with flashing lights or creating the illusion of a starry night with tiny twinkling lights.

Question 10: Identify and explain two safety considerations when using stage lighting equipment.

Answer: Ensure all electrical connections are secure to prevent short circuits or fires. Avoid overloading circuits and keep lighting equipment away from flammable materials to prevent fire hazards.