Without light, the theater cannot exist, that's for sure. As actors, spectators and technical visionaries, our power depends on the light we are given. However, the extent to which our performance depends on light has changed dramatically throughout history as light technology has developed and expanded. Throughout the history of performance art, the artistic community is constantly victimized by the limitations of lighting technology and exponentially changed by technological advances. From the use of candles and natural light to isolated light and electricity, the histories of lighting and theater are virtually inseparable and continue to push the boundaries of live performance. Like any journey, it is necessary to start with a single step: evolution. lighting in the theater began with the resources available to ancient Roman and Greek societies; sunlight and candles. Thus, the shows and events took place in broad daylight, to allow the most natural light to flood the stage. Although this method was successful in bringing the scene to life and making the actors and settings visible, it failed to create momentum, establish mood, or manipulate the audience's perspective and emotion. Rather than a creative tool, lighting was seen as a solution to a problem – a product born out of necessity. Innovative uses of light were limited to large demonstrations that often became centerpieces of Greek and Roman theater. For example, large burning houses took center stage, but all other lighting cues were strictly two-dimensional, painted onto the backdrop. While this forced the audience to focus their energy and attention on the players and the action, it also limited their experience - without illuminating the middle of paper......_&_sound_history_of_lighting_&_sound_recording.pdf [Accessed January 6, 2014]. Lauginie, P. and Drummond Light, Limelight: a device in its time. [e-book] Paris-Sud University, France: Orsay History and Diffusion of Sciences Group (GHDSO). http://archive.ihpst.net/2013/Procs/Lauginie.pdf [Accessed January 19, 2014]. Redler, D. and Stage Lighting Museum. [online] Available at: http://www.compulite.com/stagelight/html/history-4/history-4-text.html [Accessed: January 6, 2014].Russell Brown, J. 1995. The Oxford Illustrated History of Theater. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Wild, L. 2013. A Brief History of Stage Lighting. [online] Available at: http://www3.northern.edu/wild/LiteDes/ldhist.htm [Accessed: January 6, 2014]. Williams, B. 1999. A history of light and illumination. [online] Available at: http://www.mts.net/~william5/history/hol.htm [Accessed January 5 2014].