The lighting design is usually executed during the final, hectic week of the production. The first step is
rigging
the lighting. Then the luminaires are focused. Next the lighting cues are plotted and tried out in technical rehearsals, where the various components of the show, including the lighting, are brought together on
stage
- actors, scenery, music and so on. One or more run-throughs precede the dress rehearsal, by which time the lighting should already be running smoothly.
Modifications or additions to the lighting keep being made during the technical rehearsals, run-throughs and dress rehearsal.
Work schedules and timetables of the technical rehearsals are planned during pre-production . The time and size of crew allotted to lighting will depend on the amount of work estimated for
rigging
of the lighting, based on the scope and complexity of the lighting.
Rigging the lighting for a company with its own theatre will require a lot less time than when
rigging
the lighting of a one-off production which has no permanent house and needs to bring in a
rig
and all of the lighting equipment. More than any other consideration, the quantities of equipment, and to a certain extent the availability of lighting positions, will dictate the time framework and the size of crew necessary.
