In our production of Frankenstein, we’ve used various different lighting techniques to convey the films message and symbolise the key themes about monstrosity and power. Lighting is vital in theatre as it can help emphasise parts of the scene, stress tension or fear, evoke emotions, and deeply enhance a piece of theatre.
In the opening scene ‘The Creature’s First Steps’, all light is blacked out, with a single white spotlight shining on the creature, in aims to symbolise the oblivious and naive nature of the creature. However, when Frankenstein appears and starts shouting at the creature, the lighting changes, the piano music stops, and dull lighting fills the set, representing the dull atmosphere the creature has been brought in. We use cool colours in emotional parts of the scene, such as the ending, where Frankenstein’s father realises what he’s son’s done. These cool tones help stress the feeling of isolation and sadness, whereas in other scenes, that depict murder/torment, we use red LEDs to exaggerate the fearful moment, and create tension and anxiety on stage.
In contrast, Frankenstein has been redone using many different kinds of theatre lighting in productions in the past. In the 2011 adaption from Danny Boyle, 3,000 filament light bulbs were used to light up the ceilings in scenes. Though this wouldn’t be something we’d be able to recreate in our production, this is a unique concept we could try to modify and incorporate.
Taylor's Document Diary - VCE Theatre Studies 2020 