Stage lighting for school and college auditoriums

An auditorium stage hosts annual days, plays, convocations, music and talks. Good permanent lighting makes every programme look better on stage and in photos, and it does not have to be complicated to run.

Front light first

The most important light is the one that shows faces. Profile (ellipsoidal) spots from the front of house, at about 45° above the stage, light faces evenly without blinding the audience. Warm or variable-white LED profiles are efficient and quiet.

Washes for colour and mood

LED pars and wash moving heads colour the stage for performances and the backdrop for ceremonies. RGBW fixtures cover most colours schools need.

Effects for performances

A few beam or spot moving heads add movement for dance and music. They are optional; front light and washes matter more.

Follow spot

A follow spot picks out a speaker, an award winner or a soloist. LED follow spots run cooler and need less maintenance than older lamp types.

Controls staff can use

The system should work without a technician. A scene panel by the stage with presets, "assembly", "ceremony", "performance", "house lights", covers daily use, with a DMX console for full shows.

Safety and installation

Fixtures hang from rated bars or truss with safety cables, on circuits sized for the load, with cabling run neatly and away from the audience.

A typical starting kit

• 6 – 10 LED profile spots for front light.
• 8 – 12 LED pars or washes for colour.
• 2 – 4 moving heads for effects (optional).
• 1 follow spot, a scene panel and a DMX console.

See lighting installation with fixture specifications, and sound for auditoriums.