Ed Frearson Theatrical Lighting Portfolio Theatrical Lighting Design, Programming and Operation. Cambridge, England
'The Antipodes’ The Robinson Theatre, Cambridge Director: Sam Plumb Assistant Director:Chloe Fennell Lighting Designer: Ed Frearson October, 2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
2021
Ed Frearson
Ed Frearson Born in 2004, Cambridge England. Current upper 6th student at Hills Road Sixth Form College. Works closely with the theatrical department in the Robinson Theatre, Cambridge.
How I got into production arts:
I first found my passion for backstage theatre through my love for music. I sang in our school chamber choir and played electric guitar in the funk band. The first show I got involved in was Hair as a lead guitarist in year 7, when I was 12. I pursued lighting and production arts more and more throughout my secondary school years. I’m very thankful for the community and language that music gave me, and the foundational base it gave me in lighting. My journey into technical theatre and lighting design has offered a fulfilling experience so far. I look forward to learning and evolving as a member of the production arts industry. In this portfolio, I wish to present you with the work I’ve done that I feel most proud of.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
As Lighting Designer: November 2019 Devised school project <Thursday Nights and Rain> Director: the ensemble
Location: Coleridge College
Designer: Clemi Tinkler
As Lighting Assistant/ LX Crew:
March 2020 Scripted GCSE exam <Bouncers> Director: the ensemble
Location: Coleridge College
Designer: ensemble
June 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 <Arts Fest> Director: ensemble
April 2021 A-Level Extract 1 <Dr Faustus> Director: cast
Location: The Robinson Theatre
Director: ensemble
Location: The Robinson Theatre
Designer: Leah Plant
Location: Coleridge Community College
December 2018, 2019 <Winter Fest> Director: Ensemble
August 2021 NYT Decades Project <The 50s> Location: Rose Bruford College, Sidcup
Location: Coleridge Community College
November 2017, 2018, 2019 <Musical Showcase>
July 2021 Enrichment Show <The Antipodes> Director: Sam Plumb
Theatrical Lighting Experience
Designer: set team
Location: Radegund Hall
September 2021 <Present Laughter> Director: Pied Pipers company
Location: The ADC
As Lighting Programmer:
Related skills:
November 2020 Workshop production <Bronte>
ETC Eos, ETC Congo, Capture Student Edition, Vectorworks, production photography, LXFree, QLab
Lighting Designer: Alex Bevan
Location: The Robinson Theatre
June 2021 Company Work <The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)> Lighting Designer: Dominic Plunkett
Location: The ADC
July 2021 College Work <Babblers Improv Nights> Director: Sam Plumb
Membership:
Location: The Robinson Theatre
Association of British Theatre Technicians
September 2021 Autumn Production <Cluedo:A Musical Murder> Director: Jonah O’Sullivan Musical Director: Nellie Coss Location: Robinson Theatre
October 2021 Music Coursework Aid <SPOTLIGHT> Director: Jess Hasted
National Youth Theatre Member (lighting, video and projection)
Location: The Robinson Theatre
October 2021, Cambridge University Collaboration: Various works Director: Sam Plumb
Location: The Robinson Theatre, Hills Road College, College
2021
Ed Frearson
Association of Lighting Designers
The Penguins Amateur Theatre Company
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Content of Portfolio
PROJECT 01 - The Antipodes, 2021
PROJECT 02 - CLUEDO: A MUSICAL MURDER, 2021
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
PROJECT 03 - National Youth Theatre, DECADES INSTALMENT, 2021 05 - Other production work PROJECT 04 - DR FAUSTUS EXTRACT 3, 2021
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Project 01
The Antipodes
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
About the play
The Antipodes, written by Annie Baker explores how this world we live in is “both familiar and fantastical”. The purpose of one being differs completely from the purpose of another, however they are united in one goal and journey: chasing monsters. Our version of the Antipodes follows the story of the power struggle on this journey in a 21st century office space. We see Sandy lead his diverse team on a wild journey around time and space, only for it all to come crashing down.
About the Lighting Design
The rig I designed offered me a lot of scope when it came to the diverse emotions and themes explored by the cast on stage. The play jumps from being in a naturalistic office block to the minds of the characters in seconds, so I had to provide a broad yet specific rig to deliver this. I used a lot of side and harsh top light to really shape the actors and pull them from the cyclorama. I used a lot of pinks and blues to show the development of the expressionistic tone in the piece. We used a lot of 500 Watt Fresnels to add quick pools of light to wherever the dynamic blocking took the actors. We also used this to diffuse shadows on the floor with the soft throw these lanterns provide. I used profiles to isolate areas of the stage for significance to the plot. The set had a light blue flooring which is different to the usual black we have in our theatre. This added the extra challenge of colour matching the overhead LEDs and use the flooring to our advantage to hide shadowing.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Compliments make up a large part of the show, both in the acting to support the hierarchy created but also in the lighting. I had to match the correct energy of the actors with appropriate colour mixing, seen here in the orange and blue.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I used lots of side light, from many different sources of lanterns, including Par Cans, Fresnels and Profiles. This really helped shape the actors on stage and keep them from being washed into the set with front cover. I used pinks in the overhead rig as I felt it complemented the blue flooring nicely.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
I really learnt the value of listening to others. We started this project over the 3rd COVID-19 lockdown when all rehearsals took place over Microsoft Teams. When all the creatives got into the space working as a team, we realised the value of listening to one another to bounce collaborative ideas face to face. This vital skill was something we lost communicating online.
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Overall, this play holds a lot of value for me as it was the first show where I was in full control of all lighting decisions. The college trusted me to come up with all the ideas for lighting the show after extensive meetings with all the creatives, and allowed me time in the space to explore my ideas. I’m very grateful for this as I started to discover how I like to work, and it was my first proper taste of working with an external director in a professional environment.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Project 02
Cluedo: A Musical Murder
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
About the play: Cluedo follows the story of Mr Black, who we see murdered in the opening scene. We see his complex life story leading up to that moment and how the other principals and ensemble influenced this critical moment. The theme of mystery is explored through the acting and the musical accompaniment, with suspenseful songs and emotional ballads to follow the tale of Mr Black.
About the Lighting Design:
I wanted to create a stage split into isolated story telling zones with this lighting design, to realise the director’s vision. The lighting design uses a lot of spotlights and harsh LED toplight. I have taken a lot from the Antipodes project forward into this production.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
As well as lighting the actual production, I also lit and photographed the poster photos. I used harsh bright backlight that caught the shoulders and hair of the actors on stage. I washed the cyc in a pale pink to complement the blue overhead wash I had on the actors.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
The flooring we used was a much lighter colour than originally planned, which worked to our advantage. I took the ideas I had about colour mixing from the Antipodes project and applied the same principles. Seen in the picture on the left, I used a harsh top light LED bars to catch the hair of the actors and draw them away from the cyclorama.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I really got to grips with colour mixing through this project. I worked with colours that cast complimentary shadows onto other lit areas of the stage. Due to the nature of the show, a musical, I learned the different types of sidelight and what they bring out such as tops mids and shins.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Project 03
National Youth Theatre Decades Project
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
About the production: After successfully applying to the National Youth Theatre, I was invited to a summer intake course in August 2021 before becoming a full NYT Member. This year’s intake course consisted of producing a walk through exhibition/instalment combining the work of all the backstage disciplines. The production started in a 1920s Speak Easy before quickly being ushered out into a 1950s diner. After a warning of a nuclear attack, the audience run out into a 1970s horror studio. They’re rescued from the 1970s and move through into a 1980s arcade. Finally they escape into a 2000s Glastonbury festival experience where they spend the rest of their About my Lighting Design: evening. I elected to work in the 1950s diner. I split the space up into warm pools with practicals representing overhead table light. The rest of the space was filled in with cold side light to represent the fluorescent overhead fixtures in a real diner. We also worked with set electrics to create dynamic signs with the scenic department, whether it be an arrow sign needing bulbs or a flat sign that needed colour adding to it.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
This design was my first time using Vectorworks on an actual production. I learnt the basics over the first UK Lockdown in March 2020, so it was great to see these skills come to life.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I spent a lot of time in the theatre’s lighting labs experimenting with different light sources and angles, as these pictures show.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
What lessons I took away from the NYT Decades Project: This Decades Project took a lot of preparation and was the first production I was able to use Vectorworks on. I’m grateful for the support the course leaders and assistants gave us when working on the software. Their clarity on how to put what we knew into a show setting from their own experience was invaluable. Through working in the theatre’s lighting labs I gained valuable knowledge and ideas about the formation of states and how I could create them. For example, I learnt how to reduce shadows from side light by adding steep top light to the scene.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Dr Faustus Extract 3 A-Level Drama Production work
2021
Ed Frearson
Project 04
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
About the play:
This extract from Dr Faustus is at the climax of his story. We meet him in his office late at night, as he prepares to summon the devil. We see the emotions and strain the contract has put on him. When the devil arrives Dr Faustus must negotiate with him to survive.
About the Lighting Design:
This project required a broad rig in order to match the energy of the devil being summoned but also keep it realistic to the location of his office. I needed to balance the pyrotechnics and jump scares with setting the atmosphere of the office space. My main goal was to create a space on the stage that is isolated from the rest to show the mental state of Dr Faustus after his exchanges with the devil.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I used warm oranges in a tight pool surrounded by deep blues to create the scene set in an office in the night. When the devil enters, I used strong sidelight to cast a long shadow of the actor (seen below). I also used a lot of haze in this moment in order to mask the features of the actor and add to the tension and dramatic intent of the piece.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I really enjoyed working with and learning from the technical team involved and developed a strong working relationship with them moving forward. I developed key communication skills as we were a small crew and had to work well together to overcome the various technical challenges in the performance we had created.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
I faced the challenge of designing in a virtual space (Capture) over the third COVID-19 lockdown. To overcome this obstacle, I worked collaboratively both with the actors, directors, theatre manager and technician to make sure my ideas could become a reality. The performance was a great success. I was really pleased with a lot of the programming, timings and execution of my operation. I also experimented with different angles of light for the production. As you can see from the image above, I used lots of side light and attacked the actor with low, steep angles of light to enhance the mood of the piece.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Project 05
Other Production Work
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
About these projects:
The production work I do for theatre brings together two of my largest passions: photography and lighting. On the shows I work on, I work with a director to create crisp, detailed and relevant photos of the cast and scenes we wish to explore. I also design and produce posters for all the shows I work on. These promotional posters are displayed around college and on our social media.
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Babblers Promotional Photoshoot
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
This production photoshoot above is of the Babblers, a theatre company within my college. I worked hard with camera angles to make the cast look much larger and super-hero like. The director and I achieved this effect by using ladders. I often ended up photographing from a steep angle in order to increase the height of the actors, while trying to hide as much of the rig as possible.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
CluedoPromotional Photoshoot
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Overall, my time working in theatres has been one of inspiration and imagination. I’m thankful for the amazing people who I’ve been lucky enough to work with and learn from. The fundamental lesson that will stay with me is one of respect and teaching, gaining and passing on knowledge to keep the amazing industry that is production arts alive.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
References
Alex Bevan (Theatre Technician at the Robinson Theatre): “I have found Ed to be a reliable and competent student technician in the time I have known him at Hills Road. He has been a real asset to his drama A-Level, where he has repeatedly shown he is able to run things independently and get on with technical tasks, such as programming lighting and sound cues, usually without any input from myself or the theatre manager. I have no doubt he will be an invaluable team member wherever he ends up with his future endeavours.”
Lydia Aers (Drama and Theatre A-Level Course Leader): “The Theatre Manager and Technician at Hills Road view Ed as one of the team, having complete faith in his ability to design for shows and to operate all the technical equipment with great skill. Ed radiates a love for what he does and has an unrivalled passion for technical theatre which means he is thoroughly enthusiastic and always willing to work hard until a project meets his high artistic standards.”
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
What has inspired my theatrical lighting process I often find artwork to be an amazing place to start realising ideas for my lighting designs. Recently I’ve found the work of Casper David Friedrich and John Constable to be fascinating and I am always interested in the broad strokes of colour and light they use in their landscape artwork.
Ed Frearson
2021
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio
Ed Frearson’s Theatrical Lighting Portifolio: Email: edfrearsonlx@gmail.com Instagram: @edfrearsonlx
2021
Ed Frearson
Theatrical Lighting Portfolio