ABSTRACT
Light has long been acknowledged as a scenographic material that plays a critical role in the reception of the theatrical event. The history of lighting in the theatre can be traced through key technological developments that each resulted in brighter light sources and the possibility of new artistic effects. The mechanisms of lighting technology before the era of electricity have been documented in some detail, while associated issues are evident in volumes focusing on the consequent impact on staging practices and scenographic affect. The control of darkness that is central to the creative contribution of light in the theatre is also fundamental to the realization of the projected image. The evolution of the modern darkened auditorium can be attributed to the aesthetic concerns of the naturalist theatre of illusion but its advent was also hastened by the arrival of cinema and the need for dark spaces in which to experience the projected light of the film.
