Theatrical performance requires actors to engage in sustained emotional investment while embodying their characters. When unmanaged, emotional spillover and post-performance ‘emotional hangovers’ may threaten psychological well-being and hinder recovery after performances. This study examines how pre- and post-performance emotional dynamics differ according to role weight. Panel data were collected from 31 professional theater actors performing in productions across national, provincial, and private theater companies in South Korea in 2025. State anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X), and mood states were assessed using the Korean Profile of Mood States (K-POMS). A Linear mixed model (LMM) was applied to analyze emotional trajectories while controlling for individual-level characteristics in a repeated-measures design. The results indicate that emotional trajectories differed according to role weight. Lead actors experienced greater emotional strain before performance, but exhibited significant post-performance reductions in tension (p = .002), anger (p = .004), and confusion (p = .040). This suggests emotional release following performance. In contrast, depression, vigor, and fatigue showed no significant pre-to-post changes among lead actors. Supporting actors, minor roles, and ensemble members displayed no statistically significant emotional changes across performance phases, pointing to distinct role-dependent emotional burdens. This study provides empirical evidence that actors' emotional responses differ according to role weight. These findings offer a foundation for designing tailored emotional disengagement (‘step-out’) guidelines and role-specific recovery programs to support actors' psychological safety and sustainable well-being in contemporary theater environments.

Authors:
Bori Na, Seong-Nam Research Institute, South Korea
Yeorang Na, University of Complutense, Spain

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Bori Na is currently a fellow researcher of SeongNam Research Institute, South Korea.
Her research focuses on cultural policy and local governance.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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