Prize(s) Winners in Stage Lighting
Lighting Design/Product Company Eleftheria Deko & Associates Lighting Design
Lead Designers Eleftheria Deko
Other Designer's names Nasia Lazou
Client Co-production of the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the National Theatre of Greece
Photo Credits Stavros Habakis
Other Credits Direction—Set design Ulrich Rasche, Costume design Angelos Mentis
Completion Date 29/06/2025
Project Location Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Entry DescriptionThe lighting design for Antigone, was conceived as a dialogue between body, space, and rhythm, unfolding in harmony with scenography, and costume design. At its core, the light with the back direction sculpted the actors’ bodies presenting them as silhouettes, as living sculptures that appeared almost ethereal as they crawled onto the rotating stage. Architectural elements deepened this language: three concentric LED rings beneath the platform glowed like luminous foundations creating three sections on stage. The palace gate was traced with vertical lines of light, transforming it into a threshold between worlds. Smoke, was rising from beneath the circular stage, from each luminous ring, creating an unearthly world. Within the vertical light elements of the gate, haze caught the beams giving substance and forming the entrance between worlds.
Light moved with the rhythm of the direction, shifting intensity interacting with the speed of the platform in response to tension of its moment of the tragedy. At times, it followed the stage’s rotation, engaging dynamically with motion and pulse. Color appeared only at key moments, never decorative but always intentional, punctuating the dramaturgy with emotional resonance.
Sustainability ApproachDesigning light for Antigone, an ancient Greek tragedy means finding balance between past and present. The lighting design approach honored this legacy of the ancient history while respecting the space and the world around it, the ancient theater. Light became not only a tool of expression but also a gesture of respect—for materials, for the space itself. The light honored both the ecological needs of today and the ancient stage by using efficient sources and minimizing environmental impact. Each choice was made with care, showing that sustainability is not only technical but also poetic: a way of connecting tradition and innovation while respecting the ancient past. Light became a medium not only of expression but of respect— for the legacy of performance letting light whisper its presence gently.
Company DescriptionEleftheria Deko and Associates is an award-winning lighting studio specializing in architectural lighting design, stage lighting, and event lighting. With an extensive experience in numerous and significant lighting projects, implemented in public and private spaces, the multidisciplinary team, provides integrated lighting solutions and design approaches that respond to the specific needs of diverse clients.
