Collaborations with natural light and darkness: How Quinta da Regaleira demonstrates working with sunlight in storytelling

Abstract

This article examines the ways in which natural light and darkness can enhance a production as ‘collaborators’ through the lens of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal. Quinta da Regaleira was purchased in 1892 by António Augusto Carvalho who hired the Portuguese scenographer Luigi Manini to design the estate, including the ‘Initiation Wells’, a main attraction of the grounds. The Initiation Wells are reputed to have served in initiation rituals for the Freemasons, with sunlight and its absence playing a central role in the visitor’s journey and supporting the narrative of the initiation. By looking at both proscenium and immersive productions today, I will examine the work of designers working with natural elements, including my own successes and failures, covering experiences and theatre on a variety of different stages. Through looking at how we respond naturally to sunlight, our memories of it, and the psychological effects of darkness, I will illustrate how ‘collaborating’ with these when designing both proscenium and immersive theatre can lead to inherently powerful – and fickle – experiences, for both designer and audience members.