Interactivity and immersion in a media-based performance

The concept of immersive theater is today growing in success. For certain artists, theorists and journalists, the idea of combining the notions of immersion (in a media-based environment) and interactivity whenever they evoke immersive theater seems obvious. Yet is it really so natural to combine these two concepts? In this article we will examine the relationship between immersive theater and interactivity in three steps. Firstly, we will define the concept of interactivity, in order to clearly lay out what it is, and also what it is not. We will then propose a model of immersive theater. Finally we will look at several dramaturgical techniques which essentially aim at a personalisation of immersive theater, without necessarily leading to interactivity.