Neil Fraser in Delhi, India: Day 2

Neil Fraser is Director of Technical Training at RADA and he is away in Delhi, India, this week teaching Lighting Design.

Day 2 in India visiting the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi - 5.30 a.m. and the world explodes, awakening us all (we conferred later - we are NOT sharing a room) with a prolonged and threateningly loud concussion of thunder rolls around the hotel. In my half awake state my first thought is that a building nearby has collapsed or exploded - 'terrorist attack in London' I think, and then remember where I am. A few smaller claps of thunder follow but little sign of rain later when we surface for breakfast.

Teaching goes well for me today - my small class responds well to talking about and then creating lighting based on the human figure. This follows yesterday's introductory lecture on 'what does/can stage lighting achieve?' as part of which each student used one instrument to light one object of their choosing. The objects chosen were a baby doll, an electric floor fan, a small bulb horn and a broken pot - and from this we got stories, mystery, beauty, domesticity, industry, fear and suspense and many other ideas. But with such a visual art you really did have to be there to appreciate the work!

Today we discussed how lighting works similarly but even more so on the human form and the results were exciting and very interesting. Three hours in which hopefully the students learnt much. I certainly did - it is good to be using the raw material of light again.

After lunch David and Chantal picked up the education baton and I retired to read - when (at 5.30 p.m. this time) I am entertained by more thunder and amazing multi-directional lightning which plays on the sixties hotel block opposite my hotel balcony to amazing effect.

More tomorrow ...