Parisa Ghasemsani

In traditional theatre, the audience sits in front of performers, simply watching and listening. Theatre artists always look for ways to make their performances more engaging, often using strong casting, costumes, innovative scripts, live music, lighting, and immersive stages. However, a less common method is participatory theatre, where audience members actively participate.

This research started with the question: 'How can spatial design make the audience feel like actors?' Initially focused on theatre stages, it shifted to exploring architectural space. The goal was to involve the audience, making them feel like actors through different spatial concepts.

The first concept was 'changing positions,' using a crafted wooden staircase, video projector, and red curtain to encourage active participation. Another idea was 'sound creation,' where I hung a bell and provided QR codes for instrument sounds and a live microphone, allowing the audience to create and hear sounds.

The 'being framed' concept used different frame materials and sizes to visually enclose the audience, similar to a stage setting. Finally, 'being seen' involved spotlights and images of faces and eyes to make the audience feel important, referencing the traditional roles of performer, viewer, stage, and story.

To test these ideas, I used small-scale models and real-size spaces. My research concluded that even those unfamiliar with theatre can feel like actors by changing positions, influencing sound, being framed, and being spotlighted. This interactive space combines shape, colour, light, and shadow to create an engaging experience for all participants.