A Lighting Designer will work with the Director, Artistic Director and/or Lighting Technicians to create the visuals for lighting, lasers, strobes, spots and sometimes video screens for a performance.

What are the main responsibilities of a Lighting Designer?

• Work with the creative team to come up with ideas
• Design the lighting needed for the performance
• Be aware of health and safety aspects
• Write a lighting plot/script to note where there are any lighting changes
• Attend technical rehearsals
• Be aware of budgets and energy use

Find a variety of different opportunities in lighting design here. 

What qualifications do I need to be a Lighting Designer?

While you do not need a degree for this role, here are some useful subjects and courses that you can study to gain knowledge and experience.

School subjects that are relevant for lighting design are:

• Drama and Theatre Studies
• Art and Design
• Electronics
• Physics
• Photography
• Media Studies

Further education at colleges or universities:

• Lighting Design and Technology
• Technical Theatre
• Theatre Lighting Design
• Electrical Engineering

Find training opportunities in lighting design here.

What skills do I need to be a Lighting Designer?

These are the desirable skills to have which would make you an ideal candidate for a Lighting Designer role:

• Technical skills
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
• Good communicator
• Excellent colour vision

What does a career in lighting design look like?

You could start as Crew or Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) to gain experience before moving on to become a Lighting Technician or Theatre Technician and then, once you have more experience, move into a Lighting Designer role. Find out how Lighting Designer and Technician Rajiv Pattani got into theatre and how you can too. 

How much can a Lighting Designer earn?

Most Lighting Designers are employed on a freelance basis, meaning that you are self-employed. In bigger theatres, some employ a resident Lighting Designer which pays an annual salary, however this is rare. These are the typical rates you can charge as a freelance Lighting Designer, however it mainly depends on the project, what is expected of you and what experience you have.

Starting pay/salary: from £100 a day

Experienced pay/salary: up to £225 a day.

Find theatre vacancies with The Stage Jobs here

References:

https://ccskills.org.uk/careers/advice/article/lighting-designer1

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/lighting-technician-broadcasting-film-video

Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 04 March 2019