Workshop title

Lighting my theatrical world

Workshop description

Session 1 – Light my day, light my world – In this session participants will cover basic lighting for multipurpose spaces, learn how to rig for every event and the art of rigging specials for a black box studio. Parcans, fresnels, backlighting, floor lighting, angles, directions, intensity and use of colour will be explored.
Session 2 – TEAM’ing – In this session teachers will focus on creating TEAM for the DP Theatre programme’s director’s notebook and solo performance. Links will be made to different theatre practices, theorists such as Lepage, Craig, Appia. Participants will also explore how video and lighting were used in the RSC’s production of The Tempest and a recent production of Heda Gabler. Participants will also have the opportunity to stage a short piece, inspired by the above – focusing on lighting choices.
Session 3 – Mapping my world – video and lighting – In this final session participants will learn how to use video mapping techniques to enhance set design; how to use video as lighting; how to use video as immersive lighting and how to combine light and video – along with the challenges and benefits of such a process.
In session 4 participants will have the opportunity to network and brainstorm asking the question – How do we take what we’ve learned today and apply it to the classroom.

Target audience

MS and HS theatre teachers; IB DP Theatre students.

About your workshop leader

During my secondary school education, I co-founded the Projectos AdHoc, a theatre group for acting and playwriting. With a degree in Philology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, I worked as a lighting technician in the Teatro Viriato, then became technical director.
My experience as a lighting designer and programmer with different devising and professional companies gave me knowledge on how to work with adults and students. Touring around Europe help me to see simple and sophisticated theatre venues with the same principle: how to make any performance shine.
To find the perfect light and sound for a sentence, an idea or even for a secret sensation—sounds impossible, but when achieved, it gives unique life to another’s dream. Be a guide to this new world, with a new sun made of filaments and cables where all can be possible.
For the past five years Rui has been theatre manager at the Western International School of Shanghai and MYP theatre technology teacher; and will, next year, be moving to International School Hamburg.