Enter the Game: The role of the spectator in the performances of She She Pop

Abstract

The story of the German performance collective She She Pop is a story about audience consultation and interaction. We encounter our audiences around conference tables, in ballrooms, at campfires or family dinner tables. Our audiences are visibly integrated into our shows. The performers and the audience negotiate their roles in a social scenario which is known to everyone. The method is one of trial and error. In following a set of rules, the performances are rather games than plays. By analysing performances by She She Pop, the article asks questions about responsibilities and risks in theatrical forms of audience participation – for the performance artists and for the spectators.