Cross-cultural dialogue and identity formation in performing arts: engaging diverse audiences in small theatres and live venues

In the social environment dominated by multicultural integration and digital media, small and medium-sized theaters have gradually become an important field for intercultural dialogue and identity construction. This study selected five small theaters in Sydney, Toronto, and Berlin as samples and explored the influence mechanism of performance content and space design on cultural knowledge through performance records, field observations, and in-depth interviews with 150 audience members. The study found that plays that integrate local cultural narratives with universal themes such as family separation and hope for survival were most likely to trigger emotional resonance, and immersive stage design increased youth participation by 35%. The intimate design of the theater space significantly enhances the collective emotional experience and promotes the formation of shared memories among audiences from different cultural backgrounds. Research shows that small and medium-sized theaters can effectively build a platform for cultural dialogue and provide a practical path for identity reconstruction in a pluralistic society through the arrangement of characteristic rooms and interactive performance design.