Perception, action and identification in theater

This article attempts to consider how the general structure of perception changes during theatrical performances. Perception as a whole is analyzed, and it is argued that its main characteristic is that it is interdependent with action. The reader’s attention is focused on peculiarities of the so-called “theatrical perception” as a specific type of perception that allows the possibility of action during the performance. The article postulates that this phenomenon cannot be sufficiently analyzed without taking into account the orientation of perception to action as such. However, there is a significant difference between how action characterizes our perception in theater and in everyday life. In reality, we perceive objects through the action they perform for us, while theatrical perception is based on the action of the object for someone else (that is, for one of the characters in the scene). This distinction is crucial to understanding the classic question of character identification and engagement.