Electrician (theatre)

Electricians install (hang), point and shape the beam (focus), and connect to power (circuit) lighting instruments.

They interpret lighting plots and design schematics to determine the placement of fixtures, types of bulbs, and required power distribution.Installation of lighting equipment involves mounting, wiring, and configuring various types of fixtures such as spotlights, floodlights, and LED panels.

This can include such things as changing color, focusing and readjusting lights that were moved, connecting and disconnecting practical units or set pieces which are electrified, and in some venues, assisting with motor control or effects.

Electricians work closely with other members of the technical team, including stage managers, sound engineers, and set designers, to coordinate all aspects of the production.

This can range from adjusting light levels of individual dimmers, such as on a two scene preset board, to simply pressing a "Go" button on a computer controlled console.

They may need to be able to write cues for their lighting board, and to make adjustments quickly to account for equipment failure, or people being in the wrong location.

For some live events, such as concerts, this person may also be creating cues and looks on the fly, and functioning both as an operator and a designer simultaneously.

They also troubleshoot electrical issues, such as malfunctioning fixtures, dimmers, or control systems, diagnosing problems and implementing solutions quickly to minimize downtime.

Electricians must be adaptable and innovative, capable of improvising and problem-solving in real-time to meet the evolving needs of the production.