The Space

The physical size and position of the audience.

Is the audience seated or standing?

Is the audience moving?

In what direction does the audience focus?

What is the distance between audience and performance area?

Does the audience enter the performance area?

Does the Audience Enter the Performance Area?

Unless the theatre artist/engineer deliberately extends performance space into the audience space, there will always be a physical distance between performance and audience. Intimate type of theatres such as the black box theatre minimizes the physical distance. Larger theatres like the Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas, Texas attempt intimacy by diminishing barriers between performance and audience. But the distance is there because the performance space is defined. Also, unless the performance literally includes the audience members as part of the story (like Shear Madness), there will always be a psychological distance.

Of course, one of the more prevalent venues deliberately making the audience enter the performance area isn't the theatre but the theme park. While the patron knows that steps to safety have been carefully taken, a feeling of danger, sometimes suspenseful danger, due to entering the performance environment ensures a happy experience. However, once again, a manipulation of focus needs to happen in order for the story and the suspense to be realized and released.