The Director as Collaborator, 2nd Edition

Chapter 8Immersive and Devised Theater

Over the past ten to twenty years, immersive and devised theater works have become more mainstream and prevalent. Each designs and utilizes experimental processes to develop unique theatrical events; each requires the director to reconceive of his or her role within an ensemble. Immersive theater focuses on building a total sensory experience within a site-specific environment and invites the audience to interact with the performers in more intimate and visceral ways than traditional theater. Devised theater focuses more closely on process, developing each piece from the ground up, frequently based on documentary material, found text, or improvisation. The director often sacrifices artistic control when ...