A Theatrical-Identity Resonance Framework for Performance-Audience Synchrony

Thesis Abstract

The study investigates how theatrical performances evoke identity-based resonance between performers and audiences to enhance synchronized engagement and collaborative meaning-making in live theatre. The problem addressed centers on inconsistent levels of affective alignment and interpretive convergence between stage performers and viewers, which can diminish immersive experience and collective perception of ethical and cultural themes embedded in contemporary theatre. The aim is to develop a Theatrical-Identity Resonance Framework (TIRF) that delineates the conditions under which performance cues, actor identities, and audience self-conceptions interact to produce sustained synchrony in affect, cognition, and interpretive stance. Specific objectives are to (1) identify dramaturgical strategies that signal performative identity cues aligned with audience repertoires; (2) examine the role of facial expressivity, vocal timbre, and movement fluency as mediators of identity resonance; (3) model the relationship between perceived authenticity, perceived agency, and collective meaning-making using structural equation modeling; (4) assess contextual moderators such as cultural distance, genre conventions, and venue scale; and (5) propose a validated framework for training actors and directing teams to optimize resonance with diverse audiences. The methodology adopts a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. The research will operate within three touring contemporary theatre productions across metropolitan and regional venues in the country, inviting a total audience of approximately 1,200 attendees per production, with a targeted sample of 420 audience participants for survey data and 60 volunteers for qualitative insights. The population comprises professional theatre practitioners and adult audience members aged 18–65 who have varying levels of theatre exposure. Data collection instruments include (a) a standardized Audience Identity Resonance Survey (AIRS) with validated subscales for perceived authenticity, identity alignment, and situational engagement; (b) performance ethnography logs and field notes capturing dramaturgical cues and identity signaling; (c) semi-structured interview protocols for audience members and practitioners; (d) reaction-time and physiological measures (galvanic skin response and heart rate variability) for a subsample during pivotal scenes; and (e) a coding schema for video analyses of expressivity and movement fluency. Validity and reliability will be established through pilot testing, Cronbach’s alpha assessments, inter-rater reliability checks for observational data, and confirmatory factor analysis for the AIRS instrument. Data analysis proceeds in two phases. Quantitative data will be analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships among identity cues, perceived authenticity, audience resonance, and collective interpretation, with multi-group SEM to explore moderating effects of genre, venue size, and cultural background. Regression analyses will identify significant predictors of resonance intensity, while ANOVA will compare resonance across production types and settings. Qualitative data from interviews and ethnographic notes will be analyzed thematically using a hybrid approach of inductive coding and theory-driven coding, mapped onto the theoretical constructs of social identity theory and performance studies. Findings from qualitative analysis will inform refinement of the SEM model in a convergent mixed-methods integration phase. The study will also employ process-trace methodology to connect dramaturgical decisions to observed resonance dynamics, supported by triangulation across survey, physiological, and observational data streams. Key expected findings include a demonstrable positive association between perceived actor identity alignment and audience resonance, with expressive immediacy and movement fluency acting as significant mediators. It is anticipated that resonance will predict higher levels of collective meaning-making and prosocial interpretive alignment regarding thematic content, moderated by cultural proximity and venue familiarity. The study expects to identify threshold effects where identity cues shift from enhancing to overwhelming resonance, potentially reducing critical reflexivity. The contribution to knowledge lies in the development of the Theatrical-Identity Resonance Framework, integrating theories of social identity, performativity (Judith Butler), audience design (Denis McQuail), and embodied cognition to model aesthetic experience as a resonance process rather than discrete affective responses. Conclusions will articulate practical implications for actor training, direction, and dramaturgical design aimed at optimizing resonance with diverse audiences while preserving interpretive plurality. Recommendations include targeted rehearsal protocols for authentic identity signaling, methodical calibration of expressivity for different venues, and empirical guidelines for evaluating audience resonance in real-time during performances to inform adaptive staging decisions.