Attending Theatre Theatre History
Explore the Rise of Immersive Theatre
Kevan Dunkelberg | September 02, 2024
When you think of theatre, the first thing that comes to mind is probably some variation of the traditional proscenium setup, with an invisible “fourth wall” comfortably separating the audience and the action on stage. In this setup, the audiences are spectators, observing and reacting to the world of the play but not part of it. Then there’s immersive theatre, where the fourth wall vanishes and the audience and the performance become one. Here’s a quick dive into the world of immersive theatre!
What is Immersive Theatre?
Immersive theatre can mean many things, but simply put, it’s any live theatre that puts the audience directly into the performance. It can take different forms: site-specific theatre performed in a non-traditional space, interactive theatre that allows the audience to interact directly with the performance, or the addition of sensory elements like sounds and smells. Immersive theatre is as old as theatre itself, but contemporary immersive theatre started gaining steam in the 1950s and 60s with interactive “Happenings” performed by experimental artists.
The Immersive Craze
In 2003, the British theatre company Punchdrunk first staged Sleep No More, which would redefine the possibilities of immersive theatre. The performance is an adaptation of Macbeth set in a dimly lit five-story building. Each floor has unique settings and characters, and the audience moves freely through the building at their own pace. There is no dialogue; the performers use silent scenes and choreography to tell the story.
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright