An Entirely New Way to Light Up the Stage

Melbourne designer lightingThere’s nothing new under the sun, or so they say. I’m not sure if that’s true- as a creative sort, I don’t want to believe it- but I also don’t think it’s so terrible that we’re inspired by everything we’ve seen. It’s the entire concept of an homage! And what I’m planning is an homage like no other.

There was a film I loved when I was younger, Soy Story, about a bunch of sentient condiments who went on a journey of self-discovery after a callous human receives them in a plastic container of sushi and throws them away without eating them. Included are a small packet of soy sauce in the shape of a fish, a sachet of wasabi and another plastic container of ginger.

It’s all very silly, but it got my gears turning. I recently went to an exhibition of Melbourne designer lighting, which was quite fascinating. I was still recovering creatively, but I looked at the designer lights and I couldn’t help but think of how I could work them into my next show. After all, lighting is essential to a theatre experience. Without lights…there would be darkness. The audience wouldn’t be able to see what’s going on, which would quell the experience somewhat.

I once went to a show that was totally in darkness, I’ll have you know. Avant garde, and certainly reliant on sound, but the main (and only) character’s thick New Zealand accent proved to be a detriment. Anyway, lighting. What if the characters in the show were lights? As in, sentient, talking lighting. One is a lamp, the other a chandelier. Instead of overhead lighting, the only lighting in the show could be from the characters themselves! And with Melbourne’s commercial lighting services oh so prevalent, I’d have no shortage of inspiration, even consultants. It’s daring. No one has attempted such a thing. And that makes it the perfect challenge.

-Aubrey