Engaging audiences : smartphone use in live performance

Smartphones have become integral to modern society and culture. We use them daily for communication, research, and recreation. In live theatre, smartphones become disruptive when audience members interact with them rather than view the performance. Smartphones by themselves are not a distraction, but even without interaction they buzz, light up, and make noise. For these reasons, smartphones are also considered as a distraction from other forms of live entertainment, like movie theaters, concert venues, and museums. I believe smartphones are a huge untapped resource to further connect the audience with live performance experiences. Smartphones have the capability to create a new level of engagement by giving audiences agency over how they want to participate within a theatrical experience. While there are already plays that integrate smartphones, this thesis investigates smartphones as a storytelling device. Specifically I will look at integrating smartphones in a live-performance narrative to enhance audience engagement. To do this, I will focus on three main questions: Can smartphones successfully be used to engage audiences by giving them agency over the narrative? What forms of smartphone communication allow audiences to easily interact with the narrative? Can audiences feel that the choices they make with their smartphone affect the arc of the narrative? In order to determine how effective smartphone use in live theatre is, I will create an original play that purposefully interweaves audience engagement with smartphones throughout the narrative. To gauge the success of this investigation I will gather data from the participants during and after the performance