From the Designer's Notebook: Lighting

This is the first in a series of posts from the production's designers, outlining their original concepts, and the evolution of these concepts through to production. 

Lighting Electra  is an exciting challenge. On accepting the role the images that came to mind were dry and desolate landscapes with an over-exposed look as the sun pelted the Greek dirt. I imagined yellows, browns, oranges and reds. When the design concepts all took the large turn towards a more Irish coastal look, the images that sprung to mind completely overwrote the colour choice and added more depth. 

I have chosen to make the lighting design tie in with the set and the costume, having blues, greens, greys and purples as coastal colours. The main connection with the text is the passing of time which I will try to convey with the lights; possibly from sunrise to sunset or midday to night. Helping this will be a splash of red from the 'sun', reinforcing the passion of the climax that the text holds. 

The images shown are my inspiration for colour and concept, drawing from coastal scenery, previous productions of Electra and drawing elements of landscape and lamentation from Riders to the Sea.


Jack Scullion, Lighting Designer and 2nd Year BA in Drama and Theatre Student