Send in the Cast Recordings

: Examining the Agency of Cast Recordings and the Participatory Culture of Musical Theatre Fans

Abstract

This thesis proposes a conceptual framework of sound, participation and space (SPS) for understanding how fans of musical theatre engage with cast recordings as a form of participation. It positions the cast recording as a primary text that enables and sustains fan engagement across physical, material and digital spaces. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, the study examines musical theatre fans who visit performance related sites, collect cast recordings and memorabilia and interact within online communities. The proposed framework situates cast recordings as a central media through which fans accompany the live event, construct identity, and create a sense of belonging within musical theatre fandom. The framework is used through three chapters that explore the spaces of fan engagement, the community space, the individual space and the hybrid space, to understand how fans are able to use the cast recording to extend these experiences. By integrating perspectives from fan studies, media studies, and theatre studies, this research demonstrates how the practices surrounding cast recordings facilitate participation in contemporary culture. Ultimately, it positions the cast recording not as a secondary product that enhances performance, but as a central site of engagement at the heart of the musical theatre fan experience.

Date of Award	28 May 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Portsmouth
Supervisor	Ben Macpherson (Supervisor), Lincoln Geraghty (Supervisor) & Nik Wakefield (Supervisor)