Live Decide™: Interactive theatre where young audiences vote the story in real time

The challenge

Traditional theatre left children watching from their seats. Artystyczni wanted students to leave saying, “I was part of the story,” not just “I’ve been to the theatre.” But turning hundreds of students into active decision-makers during a live performance required a tool that could handle fast, real-time voting without disrupting the show.

The result

With Live Decide™, Artystyczni uses AhaSlides to let students vote multiple times during each performance. Every decision shapes how the story unfolds—who to support, which rules to break, and when to act—turning classic theatre into a fully interactive experience for young audiences.

"We wanted to make sure our performances were not just traditional or passive. Our goal was to create something innovative, where students could actively participate and influence the fate of the characters in the classic stories we stage."

Artystyczni Poland

The challenge

Traditional theatre experiences left students sitting quietly, watching actors perform, and leaving with little more than the memory of having attended a show.

Artystyczni wanted something different.

Their goal was not for children to say “I’ve been to the theatre,” but rather “I was part of the story.”
They wanted young audiences to actively influence the plot, connect emotionally with the characters, and experience classic literature in a more meaningful way.

However, involving hundreds of excited students in real-time decision-making—without disrupting the performance—required a reliable, fast, and intuitive voting solution that could work every single day.

The solution

Since launching their live decide™ format, Artystyczni has been using AhaSlides for live polls and voting during every performance, from Monday to Friday, across theatres and cultural centers throughout Poland.

Their current production, “the paul street boys – a call to arms,” demonstrates how it works.

Before the show begins, students receive a map of 19th-century Budapest and prepare for recruitment. Upon entering the auditorium, each student receives a sealed envelope assigning them to one of two factions:

🟥 The red shirts
🟦 The Paul street boys

From that moment on, students identify with their team. They sit together, vote together, and cheer for their characters.

Throughout the performance, students make collective decisions that influence how scenes unfold—deciding which rules to break, whom to support, and when to strike.

Artystyczni chose AhaSlides after testing multiple tools. It stood out for its fast loading time, intuitive interface, and visual clarity—critical for live performances with up to 500 participants who need everything to work instantly.

The result

Artystyczni transformed passive audiences into active storytellers.

Students stay focused throughout the performance, emotionally invest in the characters, and experience classic literature in a way traditional theatre cannot offer.

“They especially liked having the opportunity to influence the fate of the characters and wished there were even more chances to do so during the show.”
— students of social primary school no. 4 in poznań

The impact goes beyond entertainment. Performances become shared experiences built around values such as friendship, honor, and responsibility—where the audience decides how the story evolves.