The actor audience relationship is characterized by its reciprocity and interdependence, as the actors/performers and the audience shape each other's experience and shape the overall nature of the performance:
- Performers influence the audience's experience: Actors/Performers strive to create a convincing world and characters, and through their craft and connection, they have the power to captivate the attention of the audience, and evoke various emotional responses. The performer's physical presence, vocal techniques, movements, and choices about interpretation all contribute to creating an immersive and compelling experience.
-The audience influences the performance: Audiences are not mere passive recipients but rather active participants in the theatrical experience. Their collective emotions, reactions, laughter, applause, and attention serve as feedback that influences the actors' performance. Actors often modify their performances in response to audience cues and dynamics.
-Co-creation: The actor-audience relationship is essentially co-creative. Actors and audience members interact in real-time, collaborating on the interpretation and meaning of the performance. Audience members draw on their own experiences and interpretations, contributing to the collective dynamic and atmosphere.
The actor-audience relationship is a continuous negotiation of attention, emotional connection, and interpretation, and it is integral in achieving a successful performance that touches the audience's hearts and leaves a lasting impact.