Stage Lighting Archives - Drama by Design

Salford University New Adelphi Building

Andrew — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:07:24 +0000

New Adelphi – Theatre, Recording Studio and Performance Space Design

The New Adelphi Building is a landmark centre for arts, performance and creative education, bringing together theatre, music, dance, media and design disciplines within a single purpose-built facility. Designed to inspire creativity and collaboration, the building provides students with access to industry-standard performance, production and recording facilities, creating an environment that bridges education and professional practice.

Drama by Design was appointed by BAM Construction as Project and Design Manager for all specialist theatre, performance and studio systems throughout the development. Working from the design stage through to project completion, our role was to manage and coordinate the delivery of the specialist technical installations, ensuring that all systems were fully integrated, delivered efficiently and met the University’s operational and educational objectives.

The building incorporates an extensive range of specialist facilities, including a 350-seat flexible theatre, studio theatre, television acting studios, recording studios, radio facilities, dance studios, ensemble rooms, rehearsal spaces and live performance environments. The diversity of spaces required a carefully coordinated technical strategy that would allow each facility to function independently while also enabling resources to be shared across the wider building.

At the heart of the development is a highly adaptable performance theatre designed to support a wide variety of production styles. Drama by Design oversaw the delivery of a flexible auditorium and staging system capable of accommodating end-on, thrust, promenade and theatre-in-the-round configurations. The seating and staging arrangements can be reconfigured to suit individual productions, providing students and visiting companies with a professional-standard performance environment that encourages experimentation and creativity.

The theatre was equipped with comprehensive stage engineering and theatre infrastructure, including a tension wire grid connected to perimeter technical gantries, providing safe and flexible access for lighting, sound and production equipment. Motorised lighting bars, flying systems and extensive technical infrastructure were incorporated throughout the venue, enabling the theatre to support everything from drama productions and live music performances to conferences and public events.

Acoustic performance was a key consideration within the theatre design. Adjustable acoustic curtains allow the auditorium environment to be modified to suit different performance requirements, creating appropriate acoustic conditions for speech, drama, amplified music and musical performance. This flexibility ensures the venue can accommodate a broad range of artistic and educational activities.

The studio theatre and television acting studios were designed to provide professional training environments with flexible technical infrastructure and integrated production systems. Comprehensive lighting, power and signal distribution systems enable the spaces to support performance, rehearsal, filming and teaching activities while allowing equipment to be connected and reconfigured quickly to suit changing requirements.

The building also houses a suite of professional recording and radio studios designed to support music technology, audio production and broadcast teaching. Drama by Design coordinated the specialist technical infrastructure throughout these spaces, ensuring seamless integration between studios, rehearsal rooms and performance venues. Extensive audio, fibre and data networks connect facilities across the building, allowing signals and media resources to be routed efficiently between spaces and providing long-term flexibility for future developments.

A key objective of the project was to create a fully connected creative arts environment where performance, recording, broadcasting and teaching activities could interact seamlessly. Through careful coordination of theatre systems, studio technologies and building-wide infrastructure, Drama by Design helped deliver a facility that supports collaboration across disciplines while providing students with access to professional-standard production environments.

The completed New Adelphi Building stands as one of the UK’s leading higher education facilities for the performing arts and creative industries. The project demonstrates Drama by Design’s expertise in theatre consultancy, theatre technology design, studio design, performance venue planning and project management, delivering a technically sophisticated and future-ready environment for arts education.

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Manchester Metropolitan University Arts & Humanities Building

Andrew — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:51:42 +0000

Theatre Consultancy and Broadcast Studio Design for a Creative and Performing Arts Campus Building

This award-winning development was created to support the next generation of performers, writers, journalists and media professionals, bringing together world-class theatre, broadcast and teaching facilities within a single creative arts building. Designed as a hub for performance, production and media education, the facility provides students with access to professional-standard environments that mirror industry practice while supporting a wide range of academic disciplines.

Drama by Design was appointed as Theatre, Broadcast and AV Consultant, responsible for the design of the technical systems throughout the building. Our role included the complete technical design of the television and radio studios, detailed theatre systems design for the performance spaces and project management of the specialist installations during the construction phase. Working closely with the design team and main contractor, we helped deliver a highly integrated facility that supports performance, teaching, production and broadcasting activities across multiple departments.

At the heart of the building is a fully flexible 180-seat theatre designed to support a wide range of performance styles and teaching activities. The venue is complemented by a comprehensive suite of backstage facilities, including dressing rooms, scenery workshops and green room facilities, creating a professional production environment for students and visiting practitioners. Additional drama and dance studios, together with a lecture theatre capable of operating as a performance venue, provide further flexibility across the building.

Drama by Design developed the theatre technology infrastructure to maximise flexibility and future adaptability. The main theatre incorporates an innovative overhead gantry system with movable beams and motorised hoists, enabling lighting, scenery and technical equipment to be positioned throughout the space. This provides exceptional flexibility for theatre productions, performances and teaching activities while ensuring safe and efficient technical access.

Comprehensive stage lighting systems were designed and installed throughout the performance spaces, providing professional production capabilities across the theatre, studios and teaching environments. Flexible infrastructure allows both traditional and LED lighting equipment to be deployed as required, while integrated control systems provide simple operation for day-to-day teaching and sophisticated control for performances and events. Programmable house, working and performance lighting systems enable venue operators to tailor the environment to suit a wide range of activities.

Alongside the performing arts facilities, Drama by Design designed a suite of state-of-the-art television and radio studios that provide students with hands-on experience in professional broadcast production. The television studios feature flexible lighting grids, pantograph suspension systems and comprehensive technical infrastructure that enables video, audio and communications systems to be connected seamlessly between studio floors and production galleries. The facilities were designed to replicate professional broadcast environments, supporting both practical teaching and content creation.

The building-wide audio infrastructure was designed around a networked digital audio platform, providing flexible routing and control throughout the facility. This approach enables audio resources to be shared between performance spaces, studios and teaching rooms while allowing future expansion as technologies evolve. User-friendly control interfaces ensure that sophisticated systems remain accessible to students, lecturers and technical staff alike.

The completed project demonstrates Drama by Design’s expertise in theatre consultancy, theatre technology design, television studio consultancy, radio studio design and integrated audio-visual systems. By bringing together performance venues, broadcast facilities and teaching spaces within a single coordinated design, the project provides an outstanding creative environment that prepares students for careers across the performing arts, media and broadcast industries.

The quality and innovation of the development were recognised through three North West Regional Construction Awards, including Sub-Regional Project of the Year, Client of the Year and Digital Construction Project of the Year.

Theatre Consultancy and Broadcast Studio Design for a Creative Arts Campus

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Central Hall, University of York

Andrew — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:34:24 +0000

Central Hall, University of York – Theatre Consultancy and AV Design for a Multi-Purpose Auditorium

Central Hall is one of the most recognisable buildings on the University of York campus and a landmark venue at the heart of university life. As a Grade II listed building, the hall plays a vital role in supporting teaching, graduation ceremonies, conferences, performances and public events. The University’s ambition was to transform the venue into a modern, flexible and accessible multi-purpose auditorium while preserving its architectural character and ensuring the building remained operational throughout an extensive programme of phased refurbishment works.

Drama by Design was appointed as Theatre and AV Consultant for the project, working with the design team and the University’s in-house technical staff from the initial feasibility studies through to completion. Our role encompassed auditorium planning, stage design, seating design, theatre technology consultancy and the design of integrated audio-visual systems capable of supporting both large-scale teaching and high-profile public events.

The refurbishment transformed Central Hall into a highly adaptable venue capable of accommodating lectures for cohorts of up to 500 students whilst also functioning as a performance and events space for audiences exceeding 1,000 people. Achieving this flexibility required careful integration of teaching technologies, performance systems and venue infrastructure, ensuring the hall could seamlessly transition between academic, ceremonial and cultural uses.

Working closely with the architect, Drama by Design redesigned key elements of the auditorium, including the stage area and seating arrangements, creating a more functional and versatile environment for both presenters and performers. Particular attention was given to audience experience, operational efficiency and accessibility, ensuring the venue would continue to meet the University’s evolving requirements for many years to come.

A major aspect of the project was the complete redevelopment of the building’s audio-visual infrastructure. Drama by Design designed a fully networked AV solution that allows teaching, presentation and event systems to be controlled from multiple locations throughout the building. The new installation supports lectures, conferences, live events and graduation ceremonies, whilst also providing facilities for recording and streaming content to meet modern educational requirements.

The performance systems were similarly transformed through the introduction of new stage lighting infrastructure, energy-efficient LED lighting technology and modern control systems. A new motorised truss system was incorporated to provide flexible production lighting positions, enabling the venue to support a wide range of performance styles, presentations and ceremonial events. The replacement of legacy lighting systems with LED technology significantly improved performance capabilities while reducing energy consumption and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Additional works included upgrades to the venue’s performance sound systems, replacement stage drapery and track systems, new backstage communications infrastructure and improvements to stage management facilities. Together, these interventions have created a modern, technically sophisticated venue capable of supporting the diverse demands of a leading university while respecting the character and heritage significance of the original building.

The completed refurbishment demonstrates the value of specialist theatre consultancy and AV design in higher education environments. By combining auditorium design, theatre technology consultancy and integrated audio-visual systems design, Drama by Design helped deliver a future-ready venue that supports teaching, performance, conferencing and ceremonial events within one of the University’s most important buildings.

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Platform Theatre, UAL London

Andrew — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:18:50 +0000

Platform Theatre, Central Saint Martins – Theatre Consultancy, Design and Project Management

The Platform Theatre at Central Saint Martins is one of London’s most innovative and flexible performance spaces, forming a key part of the King’s Cross Central regeneration project. Located within the University of the Arts London’s Central Saint Martins campus, the theatre sits at the heart of a new cultural quarter created as part of the largest urban redevelopment project undertaken in London for over 150 years.

Drama by Design was appointed as Theatre Consultant, Theatre Designer and Project Manager for the complete theatre fit-out. Working closely with the University, Overbury plc and the wider project team, we transformed a concrete shell into a fully equipped, professional-standard performance venue. Our involvement extended across every aspect of the theatre design, from auditorium planning and audience circulation through to stage engineering, theatre technology, technical infrastructure and seating design.

The completed building comprises a 300-seat adaptable theatre together with front-of-house facilities, dressing rooms, production offices and workshops arranged over four floors. The brief required a highly flexible performance space capable of supporting a wide range of teaching, rehearsal and public performance activities whilst providing students with access to professional theatre facilities.

As theatre consultants, Drama by Design developed the complete auditorium design, creating a flexible configuration that allows the theatre to be adapted to suit different performance styles. The design includes innovative side balconies that can function either as audience seating or performance areas, enabling directors and designers to reconfigure the relationship between performers and audience to suit the needs of individual productions.

Our scope included the design and specification of all theatre systems and infrastructure throughout the building. This encompassed stage engineering, stage lighting systems, performance sound systems, communications networks, production infrastructure, control systems and specialist theatre equipment. We also designed the front-of-house and stage technical gantries, providing safe and efficient access for lighting, sound and production personnel while maximising flexibility within the performance space.

A major element of the project was the design of the theatre’s flying system. Drama by Design designed and specified a 40-line double-purchase counterweight flying installation, providing professional scenery handling capabilities comparable to those found in leading producing theatres. The stage itself was designed with integrated understage storage, a stage crossover and an orchestra pit featuring a bespoke infill system, allowing the performance area to be reconfigured quickly to accommodate a wide variety of productions.

The seating system was entirely custom designed by Drama by Design to support the theatre’s flexible operating model. Every seat within the auditorium can be removed, enabling any part of the space to become a performance area. The balcony seating was engineered with rotating seat units and adaptable safety barriers, allowing audience sightlines to be redirected towards different stage locations and supporting a broad range of staging configurations.

In addition to designing the theatre, Drama by Design produced the detailed specifications for all specialist works, managed the tender process and acted as project manager throughout the installation phase. Working closely with contractors and stakeholders on site, we oversaw the delivery of the project from concept through to completion, ensuring the finished venue achieved the highest standards of functionality, safety and performance.

Today, the Platform Theatre stands as a benchmark for flexible theatre design within higher education. The project demonstrates Drama by Design’s expertise in theatre consultancy, theatre planning, auditorium design, stage engineering, theatre technology design and project management, delivering a world-class performance space that supports creativity, learning and professional production at the heart of one of London’s most significant cultural developments.

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Stage Lighting Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Theatre Lighting

Andrew — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:11:34 +0000

Stage Lighting Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Theatre Lighting

Stage lighting basics are an important part of understanding how theatres, performance spaces and entertainment venues create engaging experiences for audiences. From illuminating performers to shaping atmosphere and directing attention, effective stage lighting plays a vital role in every successful production.

Theatre lighting (or stage lighting as some call it) is designed to make the stage performance visible to the audience, but the method used to light the stage will impact on the way the stage picture is perceived and should reinforce the overall dramatic impact of the production.

Why Stage Lighting Matters

Stage lighting does much more than illuminate performers. It helps direct audience attention, creates atmosphere, supports storytelling and influences how scenery, costumes and performers are perceived.

Whether designing a professional theatre, school drama studio or community performance space, effective stage lighting contributes significantly to audience experience and the overall success of a production.

Understanding Stage Lighting Basics

The most common method for lighting a theatre stage is called the McCandless System. Stanley McCandless wrote about this method in his 1932 book ‘A Method of Lighting the Stage’. His method was not meant to be the definitive method, but it is a useful guide based on his experience.

It can be described as a 3-point system: 2 lighting fixtures are placed in front of the subject and 1 fixture behind. The front fixtures (often profile spots) are located at a 45-degree angle to the left and right of the subject and at an angle of 45-degrees above the subject. These locations illuminate the features of the subject well and ensure they appear natural and have 3-dimensional form. The angles of the light provide definition of form without causing deep, dark shadows under the eyebrows, nose, or chin. The location and angle also provide visibility as the subject turns their head from side to side.

Colour and intensity added to the front lights will provide visibility and definition. McCandless recommended using a warm colour in one front light, and a cool colour in the other. The colours blend for a natural appearance and contrast with each other to provide definition. The third light, or ‘backlight’ (usually a Fresnel), is placed behind and high overhead the subject, without being directly over the subject or shining in the audience’s eyes. This causes the subject to stand out from the background and further defines their form by lighting the back of the head and top of the shoulders. The colour of the backlight is usually “colouring the shadows” cast by the front lights, however, a halo effect can be created by using intense, warm backlight.

While the McCandless System relies heavily on front and back lighting, many productions also use side lighting to create shape, texture and atmosphere on stage.

Side lighting positions luminaires to the left and right sides of the stage, usually mounted on vertical booms or ladders at different heights. Instead of illuminating the face directly, side light highlights the contours and movement of the performer’s body.

This technique is particularly common in dance productions because it reveals muscle definition and movement very clearly. In dramatic productions, side lighting can also create a more sculpted or mysterious appearance and is often used to produce strong shadows or dramatic contrast.

Coloured side lighting can significantly affect the mood of a scene. Cool colours may create a sense of isolation or tension, while warm colours can create intimacy or energy.

Using LED lighting in stage designs

Modern theatre lighting increasingly uses LED lighting fixtures instead of traditional tungsten lamps.

LED luminaires offer several advantages:

lower power consumption,
reduced heat output,
longer lamp life,
and the ability to produce many different colours without using gel filters.

Many LED fixtures use combinations of red, green, blue and sometimes white, amber or lime LEDs to create a wide range of colours electronically. This allows lighting designers to change colours instantly during a performance, rather than having to change gels in frames.

LED lighting has also made moving lights and colour-changing fixtures, which are mainly used for special effects and dynamic stage looks, more affordable and practical for schools, amateur theatre groups and smaller venues.

Theatre stage lighting design has four main functions in a theatrical performance, these are: Visibility, Motivation, Composition and Mood each of which is described in more detail below.

Visibility: doesn’t really need further explanation; the basic concept is that the stage lighting needs to illuminate things on stage that the audience should see and keep the lighting off parts of the stage the audience shouldn’t see.

Motivation: ensures that the stage lighting looks natural for the setting for example for a realistic interior scene at night the stage lights should appear to come from practical light fittings on the stage such as table lamps or chandeliers.

Composition: is also a part of Scenic Design and is the Lighting Designer’s attempt to enhance the possibilities the Scenic Designer and Director have provided.

Mood: is also a part of the other three functions – composition, motivation and the amount of light and kind of visibility all affect the mood of a production.

Lighting in Acting Areas

In order to provide good quality theatre stage lighting design most lighting is designed as a group of acting areas. The luminaires lighting each acting area are arranged to achieve the desired visibility, to adequately reveal the actor’s form and to make sure the actor appears separate and distinct from the scenic background. This approach helps create consistent coverage across the stage, so performers remain clearly lit as they move between different positions during a scene.

Modern Theatre Lighting Design

While the McCandless System remains an important foundation for understanding stage lighting, modern productions often use a combination of LED fixtures, moving lights, intelligent control systems and dynamic colour-changing technologies.

Lighting designers now have access to tools that allow them to create highly flexible lighting environments, adapting instantly to different scenes, moods and performance requirements.

Despite these technological advances, the fundamental principles of visibility, composition, motivation and mood remain as relevant today as they were when McCandless first described them.

Stage Lighting Basics in Modern Venue Design

Successful theatre lighting is not simply about selecting luminaires. Lighting positions, maintenance access, power distribution, control infrastructure, sightlines, acoustics and stage engineering all need to be considered as part of the wider venue design process.

This is why theatre consultants, lighting designers, AV consultants and architects often work together from the earliest stages of a project.

Early coordination allows lighting positions, power requirements, control infrastructure and maintenance access to be integrated into the building design, helping to create more flexible and future-proof performance spaces.

Further technical guidance is available from the ABTT and other industry bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most common questions we are asked about stage lighting and theatre lighting design.

What is stage lighting?

Stage lighting is the use of lighting equipment to illuminate performers, scenery and stage areas during a performance. In addition to providing visibility, stage lighting helps create atmosphere, direct audience attention, support storytelling and enhance the overall visual impact of a production.

What is the McCandless System?

The McCandless System is a theatre lighting method developed by Stanley McCandless in the early twentieth century. It uses two front lights positioned at 45-degree angles and a backlight to create natural-looking illumination, reveal form and provide separation from the background. Although modern lighting design has evolved significantly, the principles of the McCandless System remain influential today.

Why is stage lighting important?

Stage lighting helps audiences see performers clearly, but its role extends far beyond simple illumination. Effective lighting supports mood, composition, focus and storytelling, helping directors and designers shape how a performance is experienced by the audience.

Why are LED lights used in theatres?

LED lighting fixtures are increasingly used in theatres because they consume less power, generate less heat and offer greater flexibility than traditional tungsten lighting. Many LED luminaires can produce a wide range of colours without the need for coloured filters, allowing lighting designers to create dynamic lighting effects more efficiently.

What are the main functions of theatre lighting?

The four main functions of theatre lighting are visibility, motivation, composition and mood. Lighting helps audiences see what is happening on stage, supports the logic of the scene, enhances the visual composition of the performance and contributes to the emotional atmosphere of the production.

When should stage lighting be considered in theatre design?

Stage lighting should be considered from the earliest stages of theatre and venue design. Early planning allows lighting positions, power distribution, control systems, maintenance access and technical infrastructure to be integrated into the building design, creating more flexible and future-proof performance spaces.

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