A chair and a performer are on the stage.

THE PERFORMER

When does a performance begin? When the performer starts to talk? Once the audience is seated in the theatre? When the performer takes the first step forward? When the lighting changes? Given that a performance is a contract between the performer and the audience, couldn’t it be any of these instants? As such, we need to come to an agreement regarding the details. We have one hour together in this hall, and we do want to start the performance. We might succeed – or fail to begin. In any case, once that hour has passed, we’ll have to leave the room.

(To the control room) Lighting, please!

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