The expediency in removing the fourth wall between the actors and the audience is perhaps making room for the audience to believe. Traditional theatre that depends profoundly on flash lights, exceptional costumes, and extravagant masks and make up makes the performance look unbelievable, unrealistic and almost like a fairy tale. "A search for total presence: An exposure of what is Natural vs. what is superfluous." (Grotowski, 1968) This theatre leaves little or no room for the audience to come up with unique views, and perceptions, it feeds them with information that cannot necessarily be looked at subjectively. (Boss, 2010).
The purity of physical theatre is presented in the use of very minimal props, costumes and lighting. The non-verbal performances presented in physical theatre enheartens the audience to think on their own, this subtly allows them to nourish exclusive relations with the act. It also manipulates them into finding bold understandings and conclusions of each performance. In physical theatre the audience identifies with the actors by analysing the mime, sound, dance, body gestures and facial expressions. Over the top props are not used, and in most cases, performances are presented on a bare stage using levels to assist in getting messages across. The reason for exclusion of extras that can be done without is that in physical theatre the main focus is the body, and the story that is being told by bodily movements is imperative, it is relevant and it needs the full attention of the audience so that the movement can be interpreted and given meaning.
Although physical theatre is created with good intention, being the removal of the fourth wall and the encouragement of audience participation, embracing new ideas and issues faced by society. Physical theatre is without a doubt a very risky and demanding type of theatre. Not only does physical theatre present sensitive stories that are swept under the carpet to prevent political violence or societal rivalry, but physical theatre depends on the audience to make sense of acts with the hope that the image that is presented is interpreted in the way it is supposed to, and easily distinguished.
