Theatre and Media Arts Department, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
Theatre has navigated varying degrees of evolution since antiquity as demonstrated in its adaptability to technological advancements like the introduction of electricity culminating in stage lighting. Today, an intersection of tradition and innovation, where artificial intelligence (AI) (a machine’s capability to replicate intelligent human behaviour), wields an unprecedented influence. This fusion of technology and art has initiated a re-evaluation of the creative process within the theatrical domain where machine learning enhances the analysis of existing lighting designs, enabling AI to learn from historical practices while iterating on them in new and exciting ways. This synthesis can lead to novel combinations of light features – colour, intensity, distribution and movement, generating aesthetic experiences that may not have been conceived by human designers alone. Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise the creative process in stage lighting, offering designers a wealth of tools that can cultivate innovative visual experiences. Algorithms capable of analysing scripts, mood boards, and thematic elements can suggest lighting schemes tailored to the emotional tone of a performance. For instance, AI-powered systems like LightPlot can create dynamic lighting designs that adapt to the actions and emotions of performers on stage. While some theatre purists decry AI’s encroachment on artistic authenticity, others herald it as a partner in exploration and innovation. This paper then, examines AI’s possible influence in theatre scholarship and practice to evaluate its dual role – as both a tool that enhances artistic practices and a subject of critical examination especially, in the area of stage lighting.
Theatre, Artificial Intelligence, Stage lighting, Theatre scholarship and practice
