Interact: A Theatre Experience for the Modern Audience

Abstract

If traditional theatre is a reflection of life, interactive theatre goes one step further and can be classified as an imitation of life. In a world dominated by immediate gratification and artificial closeness due to the inescapable presence of the Internet, modern audiences crave a non-traditional theatre experience. Interactive and improvisational productions seek to fill this void through immediacy, audience involvement, and creative thinking. Techniques from this theatrical genre are being applied in business, education, and many other fields due to its ability to bring people together, spark new and exciting ideas, and create unique, memorable experiences. In order to gain more insight into the interactive theatre experience, my literary research culminated in the production of "Birthday Party," an interactive, improvisational theatre event that was performed at the end of February 2016 in Fort Worth, TX. During the course of five weeks, my six actors improved their improvisational skills and developed characters with backgrounds, shared memories, and secrets. At the performances, guests were invited in to the world of Daniel Duncan's twenty-third birthday party and were encouraged to engage with the characters and the environment personally. Through the research, production, and reflection processes, I was able to dive into the power of this unique theatrical medium and its effect on modern audiences. The life-likeness of the characters, encouragement of participation, and necessary flexibility of both actors and audience alike created a memorable, connected, and personal experience that can touch every walk of life.