Presentperform

Presentperform is a term used in performance studies and contemporary theatre to describe a hybrid practice in which the act of presenting a work and the act of performing it are fused in real time. It foregrounds the immediacy of presence and audience engagement over rigid separation between curatorial decisions and performative action.

Origin and usage: The term arose in discussions of interactive theatre and live-streamed performances during the early 2010s, and has since been applied to works where the presenter’s framing, context-setting, and performer's actions mutually shape the audience experience.

Core principles include presence, responsiveness, and temporality; the blurring of boundaries between host and artist; explicit transparency about the creative process; and an emphasis on relationality among performers, presenters, and viewers.

Practice and methods: Presentperform blends dramaturgy with embodied performance. It often utilizes real-time audience feedback, participatory cues, and platform-specific design. Performances may run across spaces and media, integrating live actions with curatorial commentary, archive fragments, and audience-chosen pathways.

Impact and reception: Critics note that presentperform challenges traditional authorship and logistical models but can deepen engagement and accessibility when carefully managed. Potential drawbacks include coordination complexity, heightened risk for performers, and variable audience comprehension.

Examples: Site-specific installations that pair a curator-led tour with improv or staged responses by actors; hybrid streams that balance presenter narration with improvised scenes; performances designed to adapt to audience decisions in real time.

Related topics include performance studies, dramaturgy, interactive theatre, and audience design.