The Right Light - by Nick Moran (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

How do theatre lighting designers decide what is 'the right light' for each moment of a production? What informs their choices? Why does the audience respond more strongly when the lighting feels 'right'?

By interviewing 19 prominent lighting designers and weaving their insights through his own narrative, Nick Moran aims to answer such questions. This book considers practice across different types of theatre, including opera, dance, musicals and drama. Rather than being a technical manual, it allows lighting designers to contribute contrasting and complementary ideas about how to approach lighting design. Moran argues that the best stage lighting is made with emotion, passion and soul, by creative artists willing to take risks.

Includes interviews with: Neil Austin - Lucy Carter - Jon Clark - Natasha Chivers - Paule Constable - James Farncombe - Rick Fisher - Mark Henderson - David Howe - Michael Hulls - Mark Jonathan - Peter Mumford - Ben Ormerod - Bruno Poet - Paul Pyant - Nick Richings - Johanna Town - Hugh Vanstone - Katharine Williams.

From the Back Cover

How do theatre lighting designers decide what is 'the right light' for each moment of a production? What informs their choices? Why does the audience respond more strongly when the lighting feels 'right'?
By interviewing nineteen prominent lighting designers and weaving their insights through his own narrative, Nick Moran aims to answer such questions. This book considers practice across different types of theatre, including opera, dance, musicals and drama. Rather than being a technical manual, it allows lighting designers to contribute contrasting and complementary ideas about how to approach lighting design. Moran argues that the best stage lighting is made with emotion, passion and soul, by creative artists willing to take risks.
Includes interviews with: Neil Austin - Lucy Carter - Jon Clark - Natasha Chivers - Paule Constable - James Farncombe - Rick Fisher - Mark Henderson - David Howe - Michael Hulls - Mark Jonathan - Peter Mumford - Ben Ormerod - Bruno Poet - Paul Pyant - Nick Richings - Johanna Town - Hugh Vanstone - Katharine Williams

Review Quotes

'A detailed and inspirational work. This book gives the opportunity to glimpse the inner workings of lighting designers' minds, methods and best practice on an intimate level.' Allen Hahn, Indiana University Bloomington, USA
'A fascinating insight into the thinking of today's top British lighting designers. I can attest to there being no thrill like being behind the production desk in a darkened theatre: out of darkness creating light light that kindles the very air that reveals and enfolds the actor, sparking to life lively theatre. Nick Moran's interviews capture this magic and skilfully meld diverse opinions that illustrate the richness of today's talented artists in light.' Richard Pilbrow, Lighting Designer"

About the Author

Nick Moran is Senior Lecturer in Lighting Design at Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He is a lighting designer as well as an academic, and his work as lighting designer on English National Opera's production of The Masked Ball formed part of the Collaborators exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2007/2008. He is the author of Performance Lighting Design.
Nick Moran is Senior Lecturer in Lighting Design at Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He is a lighting designer as well as an academic, and his work as lighting designer on English National Opera's production of The Masked Ball formed part of the Collaborators exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2007/2008. He is the author of Performance Lighting Design.