sectionshows

Sectionshows are a form of live performance characterized by organizing material into a sequence of distinct sections. Each section is a coherent unit—scene, vignette, or data-driven sequence—that can function independently while contributing to a broader theme or narrative. The structure supports both fixed and variable ordering, enabling multiple dramaturgical readings within a single program.

The term emerged in experimental theatre circles during the early 2010s as practitioners sought ways to foreground modularity and audience agency. It draws on ideas from modular theatre, performance installation, and interactive dramaturgy, while distinguishing itself by treating section boundaries as performative edges rather than invisible transitions. Sectionshows emphasize how the arrangement of parts shapes meaning.

In practice, a sectionshow comprises a catalog of sections with defined duration, stage design cues, lights, and sound cues. Directors may design transitions as deliberate moments that reframe context. Some productions invite audience input to determine order, with sections performed in different sequences across performances. The approach allows for repetition, variation, and recontextualization of material.

Variants include linear sectionshows (predefined order), permutable sectionshows (reorderable by the production or audience), and interactive sectionshows (order guided by audience decisions). Some works employ cross-cutting sections that operate in parallel or in opposite tempos, creating layered experiences.

Applications include contemporary theatre, education (to teach narrative structure or systems thinking), museum or science-communication installations, and hybrid digital-physical performances. Critics view sectionshows as a flexible tool for exploring modular dramaturgy, while proponents cite heightened audience engagement and interpretive variety.

See also: modular theatre, interactive theatre, dramaturgy, performative installation.