Project Details

Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight is a beautifully crafted historical drama that explores the life and legacy of the brilliant 18th-century mathematician and physicist, Émilie Du Châtelet. The play's unique structure places Emilie in a limbo state, where she is forced to observe pivotal moments of her life unfold without being able to intervene.

In this production, lighting was designed to act almost as a "character" itself, serving as the primary barrier between our protagonist and the story of her life. My design used light to physically and metaphorically separate Emilie from the scenes she was observing. A single, isolated area defined her space, while the warm, vibrant scenes of her past were played out in a separate world of their own. This contrast forced Emilie—and by extension, the audience—to remain an observer, creating a profound sense of wistful detachment and emotional tension.

The lighting design also required close collaboration with the projection artist. We worked together to blend the color palettes of the scenes, ensuring the projected content and the stage lighting seamlessly merged to create a unified and immersive visual world. This close cooperation was vital in a show where the projection served not just as a backdrop, but as an integral part of the storytelling.

From the start of the production process, there was extensive discussion about how to highlight the moments when characters "broke the fourth wall" to speak directly to the audience. We utilized sharp, dramatic shifts in lighting to clearly communicate this change in focus. For example, a sudden shift from the realistic, warm palette of a scene to a stark, singular white light would instantly draw focus to a character as they addressed the audience. These deliberate and immediate changes served as a clear visual cue, reinforcing the play's unique narrative structure and highlighting the intimate, direct connection between the characters and the audience.