Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any pantomime and involves many different types throughout the show. Comedy and dialogue need lots of light so the audience can see the details clearly, whereas the special scenes require strong colours and backlighting. Changing from one to the other seamlessly has to be done carefully. Some characters require follow spots and it is also the lighting crew who are licensed to operate the pyrotechnics and advise on the use of smoke and haze.
We are very lucky to have the expertise of Keith Morrison and David Cogle in this regard. Keith was involved in the panto from the very beginning with both the producer/director Jennie Atkinson and stage set designer David Grieve. It is important that the producer's "picture" of each scene is known from the start as this affects stage set design, lighting and character movements on the stage. Paint effects and material can affect the way lighting is used and so everything must be agreed at an early stage.
The lighting plot was finalised in the last week of the panto rehearsals and involves a (long) Sunday afternoon/evening working through each scene, identifying the lighting required and the individual lighting cues.
Every scene requires to be set up in its final position and so the lighting plot involves a significant number of backstage crew - their patience is legendary !
Photographs: Stephen Mouat