Light, Scenography and the Choreography of Space

This submission for PhD by publication is primarily concerned with the scenographic role of light, especially in relation to; historiography and dramaturgy, embodiment and the use of projected digital light in performance. There is an emphasis on the ability of light to make meaning, its impact on the experience of audiences and its role in the choreography of space.

The research encompasses writings on contemporary and historical uses of light in performance and practice-led, collaborative research with digital light that was part funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The research also embraces associated concerns relating to collaborative design processes and the creative use of technology within the performance domain. The title of this submission reflects both the nature and scope of the research of a series of outputs created over the decade 2004-2014 and published between 2005 and 2015. The monograph Light: Readings in Theatre Practice (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) forms a significant, central core since it focuses on the ways in which light is used as a fundamental aspect of dramatic presentation and provides a range of new insights in thinking about lighting as a creative performance practice.