A broad field of study that explores both the role of audience in drama as well as techniques, skills and processes used by actors and non-actors to shape audience relationships with the action, with one another and their emotional distance from the action of the event. Research on personal, social, cultural and other qualities of audiences that explain particular responses to drama contributes to a wider understanding of audience theory informing decision making in drama. This includes seminal productions that initially attracted hostile responses in early productions.