Abstract
This article uses netnographic research methods, as a form of olfactory sensory mining, to investigate the smell-based experiences of audience members at Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More (2011). In doing so, it seeks to contribute to the field of theatre audience research, as well as intervening in archival questions surrounding the documentation of ephemeral, olfactory, experiences. It problematizes the supposedly ephemeral nature of scents in relation to the supposed ephemerality of the live performance experience and, thus, also extends research on Punchdrunk’s works by suggesting the potential the olfactory has for triggering the re-immersive experience. This article lays new groundwork for how theatre researchers can study the relationship between the live-performance experience and smell, as well as signalling the need for further olfactory sensory mining in the field of audience studies.
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