Light Fantastic - Kai Fischer
Kai Fischer
Lighting Designer
Today's the start of technical week at the Traverse. The Traverse I stage is ringing with the sound of hammers, sawdust is flying, and up in the seats sits Kai Fischer, the lighting designer, poring over a fearsome-looking diagram. Time to sneak in a few questions before he's had time to notice (and flee, like the rest of the team. Never mind - I'll nab them later...)
Q: So Kai - the lowdown. How did you get into lighting design?
Kai: By accident. I studied audio visual media in Germany, specialising in film production, then came to Glasgow University as an exchange student at their department of theatre, film and television. Out of curiosity I started doing a course on theatre lighting, enjoyed it, got an offer to do a lighting design and went on from there.
Q: What's happening right now?
K: Right now I'm not doing anything- just watching other people work. The lighting technicians are just getting the lighting rig set up. Up till now, I've been working on lighting plan for the show, watching rehearsals and working out what the show needs in terms of effects, moods, and atmospheres, in discussions with the director and production manager. Next we'll focus the lights, which basically means pointing them where they need to point, and making sure they the job they need to do.
Q: Any major challenges with this show?
K: Staging it in the bigger Traverse I, and then taking it on tour to lots of different venues, in a way that doesn't change it too much. On the artistic side, the main challenge is the change of atmosphere throughout the play, from a semi-realistic to a naturalistic setting, and you neeed to complement the ideas of the set designer, so that the lighting doesn't get in the way of what he's trying to achieve. Also, the tour venues can be very small and you have to take lots of stuff with you to make sure it all works.
Q: Most hair-raising moment?
K:
Q: Most fun moment?
K: That's when you put up a show and see the audience response, and if the audience is enjoying it, it's just fantastic.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
K: It's very subtle art form - it's not necessarily obvious to audiences. They don't often go away and say 'the lighting was brilliant' - often they don't realise what it's doing. But it still has a huge influence on how the production is perceived.
Q: What qualities does a lighting designer need?
K: You should know that you really want to do this with your life - that's the main quality. Then just go for it. I think lighting designers can be successful in many different ways - some are very technical, pedantic, work in detail... You just have to find the right kind of production and create your niche.
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