Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>The concept of illusion has long been associated with the theatre. Sometimes this has had positive connotations (of escape, dream or pleasant intoxication), but more often than not it is used as a prelude to some charge or complaint (notably of lies, deception, cheating). Some philosophers have argued that, in fact, there are no illusions at the theatre, that the term is completely inappropriate. This paper argues that the concept of illusion at work in these claims is not univocal. In fact, I argue, there are a number of very different phenomena which go by the name of ‘illusion’, when applied to theatre. By exploring these different phenomena, their relation to each other and their relation to the charge of deception, I claim we can get clearer about what we see at a theatrical performance – and about what we think we see.</jats:p>