Interpret and plan lighting for theatre and live productions

URN: SKSTTL1
Business Sectors (Suites): Theatre and Live Productions – Technical
Developed by: ScreenSkills
Approved on: 2025

Overview

This standard is about planning the lighting requirements for live productions.
You will need to interpret and plan detailed, accurate and practical plans to meet the design requirements and agree with other members of the team how designs will continue to be met within budget for the duration of productions.
 
This standard is for anyone involved in interpreting and planning lighting for theatre and live productions.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. obtain and use information about lighting designs and requirements for productions
  2. clarify questions or issues with lighting designs with the person responsible for those
  3. identify the technical equipment that will best realise designs, adapting specifications when necessary to comply with the budget
  4. produce lighting plans tailored to take into account other lighting requirements within venues
  5. produce schematic lighting plans to scale appropriate to venues
  6. produce the lantern hanging, overall lantern, accessory and colour lists that are necessary to be effective
  7. produce specifications and plans that are practical and achievable within budget and resource constraints
  8. record and communicate lighting information to the technical staff
  9. collaborate with relevant people to make sure lighting plans are consistent with legal, regulatory and organisational constraints
  10. maintain an up-to-date copy of lighting plans
  11. store plans in line with production requirements
  12. adjust plans to maintain the integrity of designs and work within the limitations of all venues involved
  13. establish clear agreement with creative teams to maintain designs during the period the production runs or when on tour
  14. establish clear agreement with technical teams to maintain production resources during the period the production runs or when on tour
  15. identify issues with proposed lighting plans that relate to relevant health and safety legislation
  16. clarify and agree solutions to any health and safety or other issues with proposed lighting plans
  17. recognise potential budget overspend, identifying causes and agreeing actions to deal with it
  18. negotiate additional budget with appropriate people when necessary and realistic
  19. monitor your expenditure and budget use, providing information to appropriate people when required

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. where to obtain the brief and all production information
  2. the effects of different stage formats on lighting design
  3. who is responsible for designs and creative and technical requirements and how you will be kept up to date on any changes to design requirements
  4. how to breakdown the requirements of lighting designs
  5. the principles of providing clear lighting plans using standard symbols and annotation including the symbols, terminologies and conventions used for electrical, mechanical or electronic drawings and specifications including rigging, flies and automation
  6. stage terminology such as upstage, downstage, stage left and stage right
  7. the types of drawings used for lighting plans, how they interrelate, how to extract dimensional or statistical information from them and identify areas that are unclear or incomplete
  8. conventions used in drafting lighting plans and other specifications and lists including the use of a scale rule, computer-aided drawing methods and visualisation
  9. the physical properties of light and how these are controlled in terms of colour, angle, intensity, distribution, focus and movement in the venues for the production
  10. the roles and responsibilities of creative and technical team members and the lines of communication
  11. production, financial and resource constraints and deadlines, the quality parameters for the work and the flexibility around agreed constraints
  12. legislation, organisational requirements and codes of practice considerations in the use of materials, processes, technology and the venues involved and how to carry out risk assessments of lighting plans for staff and audience
  13. the range of technical equipment available, their use, effects, capabilities, strengths and limitations including tungsten and LED
  14. how to identify resource requirements from lighting plans
  15. formulas to calculate electrical load, the correct size of load cables including consideration for voltage drops in cable runs
  16. the limits of linear load calculation made using formulas including Ohm’s law, and when to call on specialist advice
  17. how to identify and deal with any special earthing requirements
  18. reasons to consider phase segregation
  19. three phase four wire supplies including triple pole neutral and earth (TPNE)
  20. optimal DMX lengths and sensible practice relating to DMX runs
  21. the reasons for balancing load where possible on a three phase supply
  22. the importance of storing lighting plans securely and making them available to those involved

Scope/range


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2028

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

ScreenSkills

Original URN

CCSTTL6

Relevant Occupations

Technician, Assistant Technician , Technical Supervisor , Technical Manager, Head Technician, Theatre Technician, Stage Technician, Production Technician, Technician Crew , Lighting Technician, AV Technician

SOC Code


Keywords

interpret and plan; lighting; lighting designs; theatre and live productions;