Shows in the Round

[paulears]

I have never, ever heard of any staging layout described as corridor (or corridoor??) I suspect this is somebodies own pet slang description. It isn't in any textbooks I have, and even using corridor layout, google hasn't heard of it either.

[gareth]

It's called Traverse - there's no such thing as "corridor" staging.

[Bryson]

I dunno, I've done a show or two in an actual coridoor.... <_<

 

But having the audience on both sides is Traverse.

[Lozza]

My Bad il blame it on my b-tec teacher, this might sound like cheese but I meant to type "traverse" as im well aware that its the term for audience on two sides!

 

aggree with all the considerations for hallway, er stairwell, er traverse staging sorry. its an interesting layout

 

sorry guys <_<

[gus_b]

I'd suggest you look at the following book:

 

Lighting Techniques for Theatre-in-the-Round

Jackie Staines Foreword by Sir Alan Ayckbourn

 

ISBN: 1904031013

Publisher: ETP

 

cheers

 

Moderation: Gus, you may like to read the thread first before posting. Your suggestion was made as post #4 of this very thread.

[fusion]

Just as a point of note, The Rose Theatre (Part of Rose Bruford College in Sidcup) is a purpose built in-the-round theatre and the generic lighting rig (when I was there anyway!) was originally designed by Lady Jackie Staines previously mentioned! The generic rig broke the playing space into about 12 areas (can't remember exactly how many!) which were each lit from 3 sides (front left and right) by a parcan (CP62). I do concur with previous replies, Jackie is almost definitely THE guru in in-the-round theatre lighting, she also used to play a mean game of backgammon on her laptop during my focus sessions!

 

Warren.

[gareth]

... which is all well and good, except that when you're working in-the-round there isn't really a front, a left, or a right. :o I'm guessing that what you mean is that each area was lit from three points spaced 120 degrees apart, which is a pretty standard way of lighting in the round.

[fusion]

... which is all well and good, except that when you're working in-the-round there isn't really a front, a left, or a right. ;) I'm guessing that what you mean is that each area was lit from three points spaced 120 degrees apart, which is a pretty standard way of lighting in the round.

 

 

No... 3x 90 degree offsets, ie when facing each opposite area, there's one straight on (front...!) and one left and one right. ie....there's always a front left and right, just depends where you're sitting. Jesus, it was only a point of interest....

[gareth]

Not quite sure I get you. In terms of a basic coverage, for an acting area in an in-the-round space to be lit correctly with three lanterns, they'd need to be at approximately 120 degrees to each other (for want of a better explanation, in a 'Y' formation). If your lanterns are 90 degrees apart, then you need four to make sure that the area is lit properly for all sides of the audience (to continue the alphabetical analogy, in an 'X' formation). If you have three lanterns 90 degrees apart (in a 'T' formation) then there's going to be one part of the audience for whom the space isn't properly lit, and I find it very difficult to believe that someone as experienced as Jackie Staines would've designed a basic rig for an in-the-round space that way.

[ahou1]

The CFT (Chichester Festival theatre) is great for the audience on 3 sides, but not quite what I'd imagine your after. What is it your looking for in the show? Lighting in the round "should" follow many of the basic principles of lighting design.

 

Whats the show etc? Can you give us more detail and maybe we can give you some pointers to help with the design process.

 

Just for the record, I lit the crucible years ago which was done compleatly in the round (as wel asl sound design) and it was superb. I think its possible the best in debth theatre show I've lit to date.

 

Dave - I've just been surfing for some tips on lighting in the round - and came across your post - funnily enough we are also planning to do the crucible as you did in the post above - I just wondered if you had any specific things from that show which worked really well that you can remember - we have a small area - only about 5m by 4m but a reasonable rig - though in reality audience will only be on three sides as its such a small venue

 

Any tips gratefully recieved !!

 

Thanks

Alison

[Bryson]

Just an update to an earlier digression in this thread: what I would call "traverse" staging is called "alley" over here. I'm lighting an "alley" show tomorrow, actually!

 

Especially for small venues, my tip would be to light it steeper than you would normally tend to - otherwise you light the hell out of the facing audience who become unfortably visible. Also, don't sweat about making the lighting "the same" for all audience sides. The point is that it's different which side you sit on. And make sure you watch a run from each seating block. I usually reprogramme 80% of the cues after trying that.

[HobitLight]

And make sure you watch a run from each seating block. I usually reprogramme 80% of the cues after trying that.

I can imagine a riggers' remote coming in handy for that!