How would you make it look like there's fire onstage without actually using fire or water?

Answer 1

That depends on the size of the fire.

If it is in a fireplace or woodstove, there is a mechanism that rotates a cylinder (with slots and orange, yellow and red gels) around a lightbulb to produce the effect of contained flame.

If the fire is to be much larger, the same effect can be obtained by throwing this light across a longer distance. Of course the apparatus would need to be larger, if not physically, then in terms of wattage. Or two sets of gels, each cut to represent flames but different in shape from each other, could be placed side by side and rapidly and alternately lit, to achieve the appearance of fire. This works especially well if the gels are fanned to make them move and flicker.

There are many other ways to produce this affect. But, however it is produced, don't forget the smoke machine.

Answer 2

One way to create the illusion of fire onstage without using real fire or water is by using lighting effects. You can project images or patterns of flames onto a backdrop or use flickering lights to simulate the movement of fire. Additionally, incorporating sound effects like crackling and roaring can enhance the illusion. Using fabrics that resemble flames and moving them in a choreographed manner can also contribute to the effect.