Lighting Science Group, who is the world’s leading premier LED lighting manufacturer, announced earlier this month that it has received more than $100 million of LED lighting orders in the last year alone.

This highlights an astounding increase of more than 100% on last year.

Chairman of Lighting Science Group commented, “Surpassing the $100 million order mark this year is not only a significant achievement for our company, but for the entire LED lighting industry.”

The company announced that their LED products are being used in all manner of industries. This includes the International Space Station right through to the Time Square ball through to LED stage lighting in theatres in London and Ney York. Cities all across the globe are also using LED technology. Even homes are switching to LED technologies instead of traditional tungsten bulbs and lighting methods.

But why the massive surge in interest?

LED technology delivers substantial savings to people because they last longer, give off a bright light, and use less energy. This means they don’t get as hot as traditional lighting methods, a benefit that end users value as it means that the stage area is less hot for actors and staff in the theatre, as well as being safer on the whole.

LED stands for Light emitting diode. They were introduced as a practical lighting component back in 1962. An LED releases energy in the form of photons, and the subsequent effect is called electroluminescence. Infra-red LEDs are used in remote controls which are used for products like TVs, DVD players, alarm clocks and so on.

LEDs are designed to operate on no more than 30-60mW of electrical power. They are beneficial because they can emit high lighting brightness. They are more efficient per watt than regular incandescent bulbs which is a great benefit to any company that needs to use a large volume of lighting products in their business – like a hairdressing salon or a museum.

LEDs can come in various light colours, from red to blue to green and so on. They can be quite small in size, sometimes smaller than 2mm. They are sued for circuit boards and many electronic engineers will be highly familiar with their use within a circuit board. LEDs can be dimmed by lowering the current, and they are unlikely to fail suddenly like traditional bulbs. They have a long lifetime; a report suggests this could be up to 50,000 hours of use.

Based in Canterbury, the Marlow Theatre has finally received the face lift it deserves, totally a £2.6million refurbishment.

Plans to  tear down the old theatre have been on the council’s agenda for many years, making the refurbishment of the Marlow long awaited.

In 2009, when the council voted for the refurbishment project to go ahead they also purchased the car showroom next door so they could spill out into this extra space. Not only this, but the old building was planned to be flattened completely.

Theatre Director Mark Everett commented, “The old building was falling to pieces around us, and up to the last minute it was by no means certain which way the vote would go. We’d have made the old building work somehow – the one thing all theatres have is unlimited supplies of gaffer tape and black emulsion. But this is a dream come true.”

The theatre was opened by Prince Edward on October 4th and the year’s programme has since been announced. Shows scheduled to be performed in the new theatre include The Nutcracker, Peppa Pig, Henry V and the Winter’s Tale, Grease the musical, and other big hit shows. It is expected to be very popular over the Christmas season as many people want to experience the new theatre building first hand.

The refurbishment includes new stage lighting systems, a state of the art theatre sound system and a general face lift to include new seats, a new stage, and new theatre curtains and stage curtains.

The project was expected to be finished earlier than it actually was. The organiser said that they intended to invite people to come and have a look around the new Marlow Theatre two weeks before shows started, but they simply ran out of time and were still drilling and hammering right up to the wire.

The theatre is said to look modern, amongst the medieval buildings across the street. The theatre can be viewed and fills an entire window from the cathedral.

Photos courtesy of Tim Stubbings

Before starting out in the lighting business it is important to consider the complex nature of the job. There are many different levels and job disciplines to be considered in a range of industries. There is stage lighting or theatre lighting, commercial lighting or home lighting, amongst many more.

To succeed well in a lighting profession you need to have a calm manner and meticulous attention to detail. There needs to be a certain level of pride and attention to the appearance of the work. Lighting is, after all, about aesthetics and looking pleasing on the eye.

There should also be a practicality to your approach to lighting. You should be able to think methodically and mathematically at times, especially if you are an electrician or electronics engineer that designs large lighting circuits. This requires a great deal of skill and expertise at the top end level of the job.

You should have qualifications in the field you aim to work in. These can be vocational or academic certificates which prove you can work professionally with qualified experience.

Lighting is often connected to other areas, too. For example, in stage lighting a technician has to have an understanding of sound and stage design too. This ensures the lighting works in harmony with the other areas of the production. It is a lot about team work, but with individual work also a major part of your day.

Working in lighting can see you on a successful career path. You could freelance if you would like to try your hand at working for different companies, or you could focus on working for one theatre or business.

The time you put into the job, like many jobs, will reap rewards for the hard work. Keeping an open mind and being ready to develop your career into different sectors will ensure you develop strong industry understanding and experience. Experience is key when applying for job opportunities in lighting.

Perth Theatre, where Ewan McGregor first took up acting as a young man, has just received one of four lottery grants which will go towards reinstating the theatre to the grandeur it once had when it was first built.

McGregor first went to the Scottish theatre as a teenager where he took up acting and worked to save for Drama College.

Perth theatre has since received a lot of success; just last season sixty thousand people came through its doors. Despite its popularity the theatre was in desperate need of renovation, which this grant will help to achieve.

The restoration project includes installing top of the range theatre stage lighting. This will help the theatre reach the 21^st century with sound and visual effects unheard of when it was first built in the 1900s.

As well as the stage lighting will be new stage sound systems, seating, orchestra pit and brand new back stage facilities.

The top of the project check list is for the 800 seat auditorium to be reinstated to make viewing more comfortable for the audience.

This week Ewan McGregor went to Perth Theatre and had his picture taken with young actors and actresses to celebrate the lottery grant and the proposed plans for improvement to the theatre.

He spoke to many budding theatre-goers on his visit and said the project was very exciting and a great investment for future generations of actors and actresses,

“For me it was the start of a career, but for many others, participation in arts activities is an equally life changing way of broadening horizons, boosting confidence and self worth and encouraging creativity in all walks of life. To be a part of a collective, creative endeavour at the heart of a working theatre is an unforgettable experience.”

Other theatres to receive grants will include The Kings Theatre in Glasgow, the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh and Campbeltown Picture House.

According to a study 65% of people believed that the audio and lighting effects in an event are important to the atmosphere of the performance. Whether this is a band, gig, theatrical performance or dance show, the lighting and sound are important factors to consider if you are planning a live event. Without a good sound system, people will lose interest in the show and it could be a failure.

The sound equipment is vital in any event that needs to make someone heard. The speakers need to be appropriate for the decibels and they need to be strategically placed to avoid echoes and accomplish the best type of sound. Theatre and audio engineers will know how to best achieve results in both an open outside space and an indoor arena.

One technician said, “I’ve been working on theatre stage lighting in Manchester and theatre stage sound systems in Manchester for around ten years. Every space is different, and needs expert knowledge to ensure that every level is taken care of. You also need people on hand whilst the event is taking place to tackle any last minute issues or problems. There are so many dimensions to designing the lighting and audio for an event because every single venue is unique and has different requirements that need to be taken into account.”