--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In drama, I think, the audience is a…" description: "\"In drama, I think, the audience is a willing participant. It's suspending a certain kind of disbelief to try to get something out of a story.\" — Edward..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/edward-norton-2203_audience_in-drama-i-think-the-audience-is-a-willi_3041470.jpg" --- # In drama, I think, the audience is a willing participant… ![“In drama, I think, the audience is a willing participant. It's suspending a certain kind of disbelief to try to get something out of a story.” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/edward-norton-2203_audience_in-drama-i-think-the-audience-is-a-willi_3041470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/edward-norton-2203_audience_in-drama-i-think-the-audience-is-a-willi_3041470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/edward-norton-2203_audience_in-drama-i-think-the-audience-is-a-willi_3041470.jpg) > “In drama, I think, the audience is a willing participant. It's suspending a certain kind of disbelief to try to get something out of a story.” [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Audience participation requires suspension of disbelief to extract meaning from drama. **In simple terms:** Audience must believe to engage. Key Takeaway Cultivate immersive storytelling. Themes theatre audience belief Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational reflective When to use this quote - film - stage play - interactive media Key Concepts narrative theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does disbelief affect narrative? - What techniques enhance immersion? A Different Perspective Some audiences resist suspension, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-willing-2347669/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Disbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelief/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-think-406486/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-audience/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [I want to build an audience that's willing to follow us in whichever direction we might choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-want-to-build-an-audience-that-s-willing-to-follow-us-in-whichever/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I really just want an audience that is willing to let me live my life and share with them what I get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/i-really-just-want-an-audience-that-is-willing-to-let-me-live-my-life/) [Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/) > [Comedy scares me a lot. I feel like it's way harder than drama. I think my safety net is definitely drama, and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/comedy-scares-me-a-lot-i-feel-like-it-s-way-harder-than-drama-i-think/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [Comedy is drama. I think that if your characters are feeling something that is very real, then they have to respond in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/comedy-is-drama-i-think-that-if-your-characters-are-feeling-something/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [Who really wants to see people causing drama just for the sake of causing drama? I think some people get caught up in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-port/who-really-wants-to-see-people-causing-drama-just-for-the-sake-of/) [Whitney Port](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-port/) > [When I become a character in a movie or drama... I can think about the character only and not the complicated matters of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gong-yoo/when-i-become-a-character-in-a-movie-or-drama-i-can-think-about-the/) [Gong Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gong-yoo/) > [I think that even in a drama, we all want to smile, and laugh because what a horrible life if we're just like "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-koechner/i-think-that-even-in-a-drama-we-all-want-to-smile-and-laugh-because/) [David Koechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-koechner/) > [I have dealt with criticism from my first drama, and I think that is a part of our profession. It brings me down but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahira-khan/i-have-dealt-with-criticism-from-my-first-drama-and-i-think-that-is-a/) [Mahira Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahira-khan/) > [To be honest, I am somebody that, as long as I have a character, it doesn't really matter if it's comedy or drama -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-tointon/to-be-honest-i-am-somebody-that-as-long-as-i-have-a-character-it/) [Hannah Tointon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-tointon/) > [I really like films and plays that cross over different genres. So I'd like to do something that you think is a drama and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/i-really-like-films-and-plays-that-cross-over-different-genres-so-i-d/) [Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/) > [I like a drama. And I think that's the basis of good films, or good plays, is to have a nice drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-like-a-drama-and-i-think-that-s-the-basis-of-good-films-or-good/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I love musicals but it's very, very different. It's really just a different form than serious drama, and has very different rules and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/i-love-musicals-but-it-s-very-very-different-it-s-really-just-a/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I get the greatest joy from just doing anything, being an actor. Doing music, and doing what I love to do. I don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-get-the-greatest-joy-from-just-doing-anything-being-an-actor-doing/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [I love anybody who has convictions enough to make mistakes because only people who make mistakes get into enough trouble to be called drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsters/i-love-anybody-who-has-convictions-enough-to-make-mistakes-because/) [James Marsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsters/) > [If you look at Japanese drama, I think there is definitely a treasure trove of it, but I just don't think that people know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masi-oka/if-you-look-at-japanese-drama-i-think-there-is-definitely-a-treasure/) [Masi Oka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masi-oka/) ## More by Edward Norton > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's better for people to miss you than to have seen too much of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/it-s-better-for-people-to-miss-you-than-to-have-seen-too-much-of-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [You can't control everything that comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-can-t-control-everything-that-comes-to-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The incentive for business is not, and cannot, be anything other than the root incentive for all business: they must profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-incentive-for-business-is-not-and-cannot-be-anything-other-than/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [My greatest hope is that we transcend the most fearful thing, which is that we are rapidly degrading the ecological systems on this planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/my-greatest-hope-is-that-we-transcend-the-most-fearful-thing-which-is/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [David Fincher is probably the best comprehensive director in terms of being a manger of a process that must drive forward. He has such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/david-fincher-is-probably-the-best-comprehensive-director-in-terms-of/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Sometimes their oppression of emotion and the weird way it comes out is more interesting than painting it in bold primary colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/sometimes-their-oppression-of-emotion-and-the-weird-way-it-comes-out/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-thing-i-m-absolutely-convinced-of-no-matter-how-crazy/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Making really great music, making really great films, writing great books is an antidote to all of that. And, as people, as artists, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/making-really-great-music-making-really-great-films-writing-great/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I like music, but I need to get outside more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-like-music-but-i-need-to-get-outside-more/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-taking-old-dramatic-ideas-and-devices/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I had a huge advantage with Edward Norton because he's directed a movie before, so one thing he appreciates is how hard my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-had-a-huge-advantage-with-edward-norton-because-he-s-directed-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) [Explore all 179 Edward Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In drama, I think, the audience is a willing participant. 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