How the Silent Receivers Influence the Acting of Theater Performers

Abstract

The theater has a long, mirror-like tradition in which the artistic form resonates with audience’s own experience. Our intention is to reverse the mirror by analyzing how an actor receives signals from a silent receiver, and what he or she does with them. This question is important because the digital society of the early 21st century too often obscures the reciprocal action that individuals exert on each other. This has been particularly acute during lockdowns, but the general tendency is to resort to digital tools at the expense of physical interactions. Through the social mirror, symbolic interactionism makes it possible to clarify the role played by the audience in theatre actors’ performance. The comprehensive and microsociological approach taken by Interactionists means that their perspective is inductive. A qualitative methodology is appropriate, involving spending time with actors and collecting their testimonials. Initial data confirm that the audience plays a triple role in theatrical creation. First of all, through its presence, it brings shows to life. Second, a real exchange of signals takes place between the stage and the house, a process both of interaction, adjustment and social exchange with counter-gifts for the artists exposed to the public. The nature of an unintentional gift, which is interpreted and integrated into the acting response of the actor, can enrich social exchange theory. Finally, the audience plays a sanctioning role because it is its presence alone that makes it possible to validate whether the theatrical form successfully comes across as a creation. Symbolic Interactionism theory, rarely used in management science research, can help to better understand the sounding board of silent audiences whose reflective action influences performers. This better understanding of social interactions has implications for teacher-student exchanges, social interactions within organizations, and ultimately society as a whole.