Research

Research towards my doctoral thesis

My thesis is provisionally entitled Repositioning the Role of Lighting in Live Theatre Performance Using Digital Technology. You can read my research proposal, which sets out the main arguments, here.

Early electric theatre lighting controls

As a part of my research toward my doctoral thesis, I have been researching early electric lighting controls - in particular, the Grand Master and the Light Console.

The Grand Master

As a part of my research, I have created a ‘virtual’ (software) Grand Master, that you can download to see how the original control system worked:

The Read Me file.
The software (for Macintosh OS 9 or OS X).
The software (for Windows 98/NT/2000/XP). Note that this is completely untested, and may well not work correctly. If you are interested in a tested Windows version of Virtual GM, please contact me.
The source code to build the software using REALbasic.

The Light Console

As a part of my research, I have restored to working condition the 60-way Light Console built in 1946 for the Theatre Royal, Bristol, UK. The console is owned by Jim Laws, and is currently housed at Rose Bruford College. The restoration project has been sponsored by a grant from the Society for Theatre Research and sponsorship by Electronic Theatre Controls.

I have collated some information on the 17 Light Consoles made here.

Lighting Designs
Research
PhD Research Proposal
Publications & Papers

Date: 2005/06/30	Home \| Contact... \| Colophon
Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Nick Hunt.