Before a single word is spoken on stage, before the actors move or the music stirs, there is light. Or the absence of it. Lighting design is one of the most powerful and least understood elements of performance; part craft, part instinct, part choreography. It shapes how we see, but more importantly, how we feel. Whether it’s the cool wash of dawn breaking over a bare set or the deep blue that signals loss, lighting guides the emotional architecture of a production. This article walks through the stages of lighting design—from the first reading of the script to the final cue on opening night—tracing how designers use light not just to illuminate, but to imagine.
Donald Holder’s TEDx talk explores the nuanced craft of lighting for theatre, opera, and dance, revealing how light becomes a dynamic storyteller that brings movement and emotion into focus on stage. With decades of experience, Holder highlights how every beam and shadow must be choreographed with intention, elevating set and narrative through purposeful illumination .
Watch the full video here.
