Using lighting for set design

Over the past 35 years of lighting stages, I have been called upon many times to make up for the lack of set on stage by using lighting techniques – on the whole very successfully. School productions are often set in very acceptable spaces, but with an inability to store, make or budget for set, lighting equipment can instead be utilised to create the environment, signify the passing of time, season or era, and all it takes is just a bit of understanding of the kit, how it can be manipulated, and a bit of technical know-how to get it all to work.