The acoustic profiles of emotion: Analyzing the spoken voice in theatre performance

This study investigates the acoustic markers that distinguish emotions in spoken word theater, focusing on pitch, speech rate, pauses, volume, and frequency balance. Nine professional actors recorded six short texts, each performed in neutral, happy, sad, angry, tender, and fearful states. Acoustic analysis measured variations across these emotions to identify defining characteristics. Results indicate that high-activity emotions (happiness, anger) are associated with faster speech rates, higher pitch, shorter pauses, increased volume, and greater high-frequency presence. In contrast, low-activity emotions (sadness, tenderness) exhibit slower speech rate, lower pitch, longer pauses, quieter volume, and reduced high-frequency energy. Fear demonstrated the most variability, with performances displaying both high- and low-activity traits depending on interpretation. Findings confirm that emotional intensity in theater performances is acoustically distinct, offering valuable insights for actors, directors, and sound designers. These results provide a foundation for evidence-based approaches to enhancing emotional expression in live theater. Future research should examine how these acoustic markers influence audience perception in live settings and consider factors such as accents and actor training in emotive vocal performance.