The Immediate Theatre, part 2 (p 134 to 157) Summary and Analysis

The final section begins with an examination of the relationship between form and content and how they sometimes have to be examined together, sometimes separately; how examination of one can lead to insight into the other, and vice versa; and how the relationship between actor and director can lead to an understanding of the relationship between exterior representation (form) and interior meaning (content). Form is particularly useful in shaping content to convey meaning to an audience, which is the final phase of a theatre piece's development.

The true meaning of a theatre piece only becomes apparent when an audience is present and reacting. Audiences are unpredictable and the traditional habit of audiences leaving immediately after a play's final curtain does the play a disservice—meaning and reaction can only be...