The Bodily Encounter: Towards a Utopian Community through Stage Presence

The pursuit of a utopian community through theatre-making involves re-examining the concept of stage presence. This article contributes to the discourse on the nature of stage presence in theatre, proposing a middle ground between the views that stage presence is solely a result of the performer’s quality and that it is an effect that technology can produce. Through a phenomenological lens, the author argues that stage presence is a contingent and relational phenomenon achieved through the bodily communicative process of both the performer and the spectator. Through the exploration of traditional Chinese theatre, this research found that the bodily encounter between the performer and the spectator contributes to stage presence. The article aims to stimulate further discourse on the significance of stage presence in constructing a utopian community.