Abstract:
Theatre, as a dynamic and responsive art form, continually evolves in response to
shifts in audience engagement. In recent years, contemporary spectatorship has
moved beyond passive observation toward active participation, significantly
influencing both performance aesthetics and the evolution of theatrical genres.
This paper examines contemporary trends in audience engagement and their
implications for genre development within the Kenya Universities Performing
Arts Association (KUPAA). Grounded in reception theory, the study investigates
how audience interaction informs creative direction and genre diversification in
university theatre. The research adopted a qualitative methodology, targeting
KUPAA officials, directors, performers, and audiences. Data was collected using
purposive and snowball sampling techniques and analysed through thematic and
document analysis. Findings revealed that emerging trends such as mashup plays,
shadow performance, legislative theatre, and activist-driven content are reshaping
genre boundaries and performance strategies. These innovations reflect a
deliberate shift towards complexity, interactivity, and social relevance, with
audiences actively co-constructing meaning rather than passively consuming
content. This study is justified by the need to understand how evolving audience
agency influences theatre-making within academic institutions. Its findings are
particularly significant for Kenyan practitioners, offering practical insights into
the creation of performances that resonate with intellectually engaged audiences.
In the wider African context, where storytelling traditions and ritual forms
intersect with modern theatre, the study contributes to scholarship on genre
hybridity and cultural responsiveness. Globally, it engages with contemporary
discourse on participatory and postmodern performance, affirming the role of the
audience as a vital co-creator in the theatrical process. The paper concludes by
calling for further research into digital theatre, indigenous forms, and policy
influences that continue to shape the future of genre in both local and international
theatre landscapes.
