Critical Stages (Jun 2020)
Notes on Light: The Musicality of Light and Theatre
Abstract
Light is a major visual element in theatre but remains subordinated to texts in dramatic theatre. With the development of the concept of postdramatic theatre, the potentialities of light in theatre, particularly the musicality of light, open up. In this paper, I examine the interrelationship among light, music and theatre, as well as the role of the musicality of light as a concept, model and method on expanding the notion of theatre, through review of and reflection on the creative processes and workings of three original theatre, performative installation and Cantonese opera productions. The experimental exploration on the musicality of light in a cross-disciplinary and cross-media context re-considers the dynamics between theatre and music in contemporary theatre.
