Jordan’s Experience: Lighting Up The Stage

Jordan studied BSc Physics with Astrophysics at The University of Leeds and graduated in 2015.

I’ve been a member of the LUU backstage society for two years. It was the first society I ever joined, being in my third year at university, and wish I had joined sooner!

“You get to go hands on with loads of advanced lighting desks and fixtures, being responsible for everything from picking colours, right up to working with directors on how to achieve your joint vision.”

The main area I was interested in when I joined was lighting. I love the amount of creative control lighting gives you over the mood and feel of a scene in musicals, and the amount of fun you can have with it in dance shows. You get to go hands on with loads of advanced lighting desks and fixtures, being responsible for everything from picking colours, right up to working with directors on how to achieve your joint vision. In a lot of ways lighting really helps to structure the show, helping cue actors from the first blackout, to the final bow (even if they do occasionally miss their spot!). There really is nothing like the sense of accomplishment you get from a complex lighting sequence running perfectly.

“…the society really works hard to make uni life as interesting and as fun as possible for its members. It will undoubtedly be one of (if not the) highlight of your life at university.”

You also learn a great amount of useful skills, and quite possibly new career ideas; if like me you had no idea what to do with your degree. Using the knowledge I gained from Backstage I’ve worked doing lighting for festivals, club nights and comedy shows. The thing that kept me coming back to Backstage, and so heavily involved in the society was the people. Everyone is so friendly and once you take part in a few shows (and socials) you’ll be hooked! I was lucky enough to be on the committee for the society as Social Secretary in 2015/16, and saw first hand how the society really works hard to make uni life as interesting and as fun as possible for its members. It will undoubtedly be one of (if not the) highlight of your life at university.

So come and join the light side, and whatever your interest, Backstage will have something for you!

By Jordan Porter

Posted on 16th September 2016