The Networked Stage

: Exploring Liveness in Musical Theatre Through Actor-Network Theory

Abstract

This thesis explores the evolving concept of liveness in musical theatre performance, mapping its transformation across pre-, during, and post-Covid-19 contexts through the lens of Actor-Network Theory (ANT). The global pandemic accelerated shifts in how audiences engage with live performances, challenging traditional notions of temporality, spatiality, and presence. By examining case studies of in-person, hybrid, and fully digital performances—including streamed musicals and online interactive theatre—the research interrogates how human and non-human actors (such as digital platforms, spatial configurations, and social distancing protocols) mediate audience experiences and reshape rituals of theatrical engagement.
The study traces the networks that constitute liveness, grounded in ANT's framework, emphasizing the relational dynamics between performers, technologies, and audiences. It interrogates how these networks were destabilized and reconfigured during the pandemic, highlighting the tensions and synergies between co-presence and mediated interaction. The research also considers the temporal dynamics of liveness, examining how digital performances reconstruct real-time engagement and how the persistence of archival material alters traditional ephemerality.
By situating these findings within broader discourses on theatre, technology, and audience studies, the thesis argues that liveness is not a static quality, but an emergent phenomenon shaped by the interplay of actors within a network. The work contributes to understanding how theatre adapts to sociocultural and technological upheavals, offering insights into the future of live performance in an increasingly hybrid world.

Date of Award	19 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Portsmouth
Supervisor	Ben Macpherson (Supervisor), Lincoln Geraghty (Supervisor) & Michael Harkins (Supervisor)