“Performance is ritualized behavior conditioned and/or permeated by play.” (Schechner, 2013, p. 89) This essay will demonstrate the key concepts of Schechner's performance theory and later that there will be a performance discussed based on these concepts. Richard Schechner dedicates his studies to performing arts and performance. He sees that performance is not just theater and actual works, but everything in life, from daily life to rituals and art. (Icosilune, 2009) In years past, Western thinkers believed they knew exactly what a spectacle was and was not. . «But in reality there is no historically or culturally fixable limit to what is or is not “performance”. (Schechner, 2006, p. 2) Schechner explains the difference between four categories of performance, which are being, doing, showing doing and explaining showing doing. Being is an existence, simply being who we are without any effort to do or pretend anything. Doing is any act performed in daily life. Showing doing is a real performance, when the actors act and represent reality. And explaining showing doing is the theory, talking about the performances and commenting on the art. He highlights the issue of “is” or “how” performance theory and describes how they differ. There are some limits to what performance "is". To qualify a performance as “is” it is necessary to say it in the historical and social context. Any performance cannot be said to be “a performance” if it does not relate to specific cultural circumstances. On the other hand, “how” performance can be studied in the round. But in the end you can decide independently whether you consider it “as” or “is” a performance. This leads to another argument, which is...... middle of the paper......the magician 'masks and perverts a basic reality';3) The image 'masks the absence of a basic reality' base';4) No Relationship with reality: one's own pure simulacrum. In the first case the image is a beautiful appearance – the representation is of the order of the sacrament. In the second it is an evil apparition – of the order of the aspell. In the third it plays at being an appearance: it is of the order of witchcraft. In the fourth it is no longer a question of the order of appearance, but of simulation. (Schechner, 2013, pg.134) The purpose of this essay was to illustrate the key concepts of Performance Theory, to show how to understand them and apply them to real performances and actions. I think the most important thing to clarify is that “everything around us is a performance”. So, after all, everyone is a performer and an actor in their own way. And life is a spectacle.