The 10 Questions Every Director Should Be Asking Their Lighting Designer
by Chris Peterson
There are two types of directors: those who treat their lighting designer like a glorified on/off switch operator, and those who understand that lighting is a full-blown storytelling tool. Guess which one puts on better theatre?
Lighting can elevate a production from “fine” to “I couldn’t breathe during that scene.” But that only happens if the lighting designer is brought in early and treated like the creative partner they are. Not someone who shows up during tech week with a cue sheet and a headlamp.
So if you’re directing a show, especially one with even a whisper of mood, atmosphere, or transformation, ask your LD (lighting designer) these questions. Not just to check boxes, but to invite them into your vision.
1. What story do you think the light is telling?
Start with this. It gets your LD out of technician mode and into storyteller mode. They may notice emotional beats or tonal shifts you missed completely. Let them pitch their interpretation of the play through light. Even if it’s wildly different than yours, you’ll learn something. Lighting isn’t just about visibility. It’s about emotion, power, clarity, and silence. Ask what the light wants to say when words aren’t enough.
2. What time of day, season, or world are we living in, and how does that evolve?
Even in abstract or minimalist productions, lighting suggests the reality of time and place. Ask how your LD plans to guide the audience’s sense of progression. Does the light shift from cold to warm? Morning to midnight? Fall to spring? Maybe the world decays, or maybe it heals. Those shifts matter. Consistency grounds the audience in your world. But evolution keeps them leaning forward. Let light do both.
3. What’s your favorite moment to light in this show?
This is your goldmine question. It reveals what excites your designer and gives you a chance to highlight it more. If they light up, pun intended, talking about one moment, they’re already dreaming about it. Collaborate to make that moment sing. Their favorite cue could become the most talked-about beat in the entire production. Lean into what your collaborators love, and they’ll give you everything they’ve got.
4. Are there any lighting challenges you anticipate in this space?
Your LD knows the theatre in ways you might not. Sight lines. Power limitations. Angles that eat shadows. Scenic elements that bounce light in strange ways. Ask early so they can plan workarounds or adjustments before tech week becomes a panic spiral. A little awareness up front saves hours of problem-solving later. A smart director wants to be informed, not surprised. Especially when the audience is watching.
5. How can lighting support the transitions?
The scenes might be clean, but what about everything in between? Transitions are often where productions lose their rhythm. Let lighting stitch your moments together. It can create seamless flow or intentional pause, depending on the mood you need. Ask your LD how lighting can move us through time and space without stopping the story. Lighting can even steal focus during a clunky scenic shift. Use it as a narrative bridge.
6. What colors do you feel drawn to for this production?
Directors love their color palettes, but lighting designers know how those colors behave in real time. That stunning cerulean you loved in the model might look sickly on skin or disappear under stage lights. Ask what colors they’re envisioning, and share yours too. This isn’t about compromise—it’s about cohesion. You’ll discover new tones that feel perfect for a scene, and avoid clashes that kill the vibe. Trust their eyes.
7. How do you want to collaborate during tech?
Tech week is a minefield of stress, caffeine, and passive-aggressive notes. Set the tone by asking how your LD prefers to work during this crunch time. Do they want all notes at once or in real time? Should you prioritize scene transitions or dramatic peaks first? Showing that you care about their process helps build mutual trust. And a trusted lighting designer will go the extra mile when it counts.
8. What tools or gear would elevate this design, if budget allowed?
Money might be tight now, but dreaming isn’t illegal. Ask what lighting gear, instruments, or tech your designer would love to have access to. Even if it’s not in this year’s budget, knowing their wishlist helps future planning. You might even brainstorm creative alternatives together. Or make a compelling case for a rental. Designers light better when they know their director supports big ideas, not just budget constraints.
9. Are there storytelling moments you think need a bigger lighting gesture or less of one?
We all have blind spots. Maybe you’re staging a soft, intimate moment under lighting that’s accidentally screaming rock concert. Or maybe you’ve downplayed a major emotional shift that would land harder with a full lighting transformation. Ask your LD where you’re undercutting or overplaying a moment. Let them help you calibrate. They’re watching with a visual focus you don’t have, and they’ll catch what others miss.
10. What haven’t I asked that I should be thinking about?
End strong. Give them space to bring up concerns, ideas, or inspirations that didn’t fit neatly into your previous questions. Maybe they have a bold concept they’re scared to pitch. Maybe they need more time with the script. Maybe the light plot is battling the set. Whatever it is, invite honesty. This question builds trust and unlocks better collaboration. And it shows you value your lighting designer as a full creative partner.
Your lighting designer isn’t there to “make it pretty.” They are there to tell the story, to shape time and feeling, and to illuminate the invisible. Talk to them early. Listen deeply. And for the love of all that is sacred in a black box theatre, never treat them like an afterthought.
Because light is not decoration. Light is direction. Let it lead.