Controlling the brightness is a powerful tool which the
stage
lighting designer uses in order to influence the spectator's grasp of the stage.
The brightness of an object depends on two factors: the intensity of the light hitting it, and the manner in which it is reflected. The lighting designer can control the intensity of the light and thereby the brightness of the illuminated object. Insufficient lighting may result in inability to perceive what it is that we are seeing; unusually strong light, too, may cause a distortion in the manner in which objects are perceived. And, most important, brightness or dimness strongly influence the emotional impact, atmosphere and mood of the
scene
on stage.
It is theatrical practice to light comedies with strong, bright light, while tragedies or violent scenes take place in dim light An evenly lit bright
stage
will evoke a feeling of calm and order, while an uneven distribution of brightness creates a dynamic space. Low light levels can cause a sensation of gloom. A
scene
which begins with high levels of brightness and gradually becomes darker will make the audience become increasingly tense and apprehensive.
The
level
of brightness required is also influenced by the size of the auditorium. The further away from the
stage
the audience is, the higher the light
level
which will be necessary. Spectators watching a play from the back row of a huge auditorium will need a very bright
stage
in order to be able to follow the play. Levels of brightness which spectators found quite sufficient a few years ago are significantly lower than those required today. What has changed? One can safely assume that the physiological and neurological functioning of the eye has not changed. It is our concepts, desires and expectations, as well as technical advances which enable intensification of the light that have altered. This quantitative change brings with it a change in the quality of the light, and organizing the layout and relative intensities of the lighting instruments is like putting together a puzzle. If the backlight is enhanced, the light must be brought up as the relative brightness has been affected. The more lighting angles used, the more these need to be balanced with yet other angles of lighting, and the number of lighting luminaires multiplies accordingly.
