Milyen lehetőségek rejlenek az alternatív és közterekben?

IIn this paper, impacts of taking work outside of a theatre are interrogated, contributing to the growing body of research on the effects of architecture on participation (Foulkes). Building on Machon’s research on interactive theatre, Mason’s work on outdoor theatre, and Home Cook’s research on attention in theatrical settings, Essex proposes that taking work outside of theatres transforms both the work of the artist and the experience of the audience.

Through a five-year interrogation of her practice, evidence of three primary impacts and opportunities for transformation was observed.

1. The impact of direct connection with an audience and how the immediacy of this feedback develops an artist’s work.
2. The opportunity for interactivity that is created by removing the barrier of seating and stage and how this leads to empowering experiences for audiences.
3. The exploration of outdoor works’ engagement with new audiences, through removing barriers to access which can be created by theatres.

This paper provides evidence of these impacts from case studies of Essex’s work and that of other international artists including Beto, and Doggs Troupe, supported by Foulkes’ theories on the effects of architecture on audience experience.

This paper was originally presented at Out of the Frame: International Theatre Forum and Conference 2019, in Cluj, Romania. It has now been published in Romanian theatre periodical Játéktér. A systematic review of international evidence found that participating in structured arts activities led to increases in transferable skills (including confidence and communication) of between 10–17% (CASE, 2010: p.29). The research findings on effective, creative and original engagement in arts delivery will influence arts and cultural policy to secure increase participation in the arts and other cultural activity.