>That sounds like a sort of black box approach, although a more typical black box theatrical production would be a play with a small cast of characters

Yes, more a design concept than a seating layout. The emphasis is on the performer and the piece not the props and costumes.

Some of my favourite theatres (eg the Donmar Warehouse in London) tend to have the performers on the floor and the audience on three sides around them. It is a well known fact that more than three rows on the level is a waste of time - they should have used rostra to elevate the audience, no more than two rows on each successive level.

Did we include "props" on the list? "Properties" movable items used by the performers in the course of action.