The Space

The theatre architectural structure, if any.

Leads to technical possibilities and limitations.

This includes the area outside the house and performance space, if any, like the lobby.

This Includes the Area Outside the House and Performance Space, if any, Like the Lobby.

The lobby too often seems to be an ignored space and yet once inside the theatre building, the lobby is the first major influence upon the audience. The lobby falls under the same construct as design, as the approach is to help create the kind of mood that connects the audience's emotional involvement to the performance. For theatre performances, the audience often will converse with friends and acquaintances before entering the house, depending on the size of the lobby. The primary approach to help create a mood before the theatre performance is by lighting intensity, color, and focus as well as the choice of music or sound. For a theme park, the audience may travel through more than one area before arriving at their destination. In this case, not only is light and sound a vital component, but so is scenic design and, most importantly, storytelling. Using the space to engage the audience in a story is an effective way to create the kind of preparation that would significantly enhance audience emotional involvement. Storytelling creates excitement. The goal is to prepare the audience for what is to come.