Why is theatre having a resurgence on social media?

Social media is bringing theatre to a new audience. 

The popularisation of theatre on social media was sparked by the conversion of famously praised theatre into the form of cinematic art. Social media has accelerated the inevitable success of this evolutionary process, causing a cultural awakening. The boundary between theatre and stage is being gradually blurred. 

Not only as an audience are we entranced by the appeal of major names, such as Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey in the 2024 Wicked, but social media has made it impossible for anyone to ignore this new media and the associated fandom.

Directors have taken it upon themselves to transfigure theatre into film, and modern playwrights are creating contemporary versions of traditional works. For example, Shakespeare’s notorious Romeo and Juliet has undergone multiple artful metamorphoses. It therefore remains as relevant and popular a story today, with a much younger audience.

Arthur Laurent’s West Side Story, brought to life by Jerome Robbins, hit Broadway in 1957, offering a new take on the now classic enemies to lovers Shakespearean tale of the 16^th Century. The 1999 Rom-Com 10 Things I Hate About You offers an additional rendition of another Shakespearean romance, persisting as overtly popular on social media.

The implicit influence casting has on the success of media is undeniable. For example, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles prevail as significant to an online media generation. 

The transformation of theatre to film is not a one-way process. The conversion of film to theatre has also been noticeably popularised through the workings of social media. Tina Fey’s 2017 play Mean Girls reworks the iconic 2004 movie into a West End performance. An opportunity to become immersed in the untouchable’s world once again caused a nostalgic rush, this time in theatres. 

This poses the question: Is theatre having an undeniable resurgence through social media, or for the first time being popularised as something worthy of online recognition for a whole new audience? 

TikTok is irrefutably one of the biggest platforms for setting and sharing trends in the 2020s. The sheer diversity of users allows any aspect of art to be shared and popularised. Edits, media clips and interviews are made by the million, spanning across the platform, and out onto other forms of social media. With such a rapid method of media distribution being dominant in the 21^st century, it is inevitable that once-marginalised fanbases take this opportunity to share their passion with a much larger audience. 

This increased social media recognition of theatre as a mode of entertainment has an impact on physical theatre and cinema attendance. The surge in popularity of this genre of art online generates an increase of attendees. Social media is causing a resurgence of popularity of theatre, while simultaneously interest in theatre is growing on social media. This interdependent relationship amalgamates to fuel the growth in the appreciation of the beauty of this traditional expression of art.