The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

Immersive theatre embeds the audience in the story world. They may sit in seats or move freely through the space. There is often a degree of spectacle. The setting is visually compelling, often with a significant sound design. It may be an elaborate set, a real-world location, or a virtual world. In any case, the audience is surrounded by the environment of the story.

However, just because a show is immersive doesn’t automatically make it interactive. The audience may move through the space or be directly addressed without becoming co-creators of the story. In many immersive shows, interactive elements are woven throughout the experience. Immersive theatre and interactive performance are not synonymous, but elements of both can be present in the same experience.