Engagement and Liveness

Abstract

Theatre offers a compelling experience for many young people. It engages the intellect, the emotions and the senses. It invites its audience to peer into the private worlds of others where emotions, ideas, relationships are laid bare. In response, engaged spectators claim that they experience more intense emotion than is available to them in their everyday lives. This chapter seeks to share with readers why many young people in the TheatreSpace study found their live theatre experiences to be intensely engaging. It begins with a general discussion of the presence and importance of emotion in the response of theatre goers. It then discusses the process of conceptual blending and its role in creating strong emotion for audiences at live theatre events. Following that the chapter offers insight into different types of audience response before considering four other characteristics of the experience of liveness that contribute to engagement: awareness of the audience, risk, realness and relationship.