360 videos are a rather poor experience (currently). You cannot tell narrative content on them because you cannot control the view like you can with movies or shows. So what you are limited to is static scenery type of experiences.

Do you play modern computer games? There are "live" narrative sections in many games now. Cut scenes don't freeze the player anymore. You can turn around and stare at the scenery if you want to. In some cases the story keeps happening when you aren't watching, in some the action pauses at strategic moments and waits for you.

> There are "live" narrative sections in many games now.

Do they react to what the player is looking at or where they're standing? I think what the GP meant was that "you can't have David Attenborough going on about the lovely penguins whilst the user is staring at some polar bears."

Theater has survived for thousands of years without being able to control the view like you can with movies or shows. In terms of VR, I think the shark demo of PSVR already shows more than static scenery type of experiences can made.

Theater is almost exclusively carried out with pre-determined views: the audiences seating arrangements. Motion on stage is used to guide attention and frame the narrative.

The form of presentation impacts blocking and scene-changes. Theater in the round would result in different staging than a traditional auditorium, for example.

A 360 degree movie is essentially the inverse of the theater experience. Instead of fixed locations pointing towards the action, the viewer is in the center of the world with potential for action all around.

Theater is much more than the stereotypical dark square room. Round arenas, street performances, they're pretty common. And even immersive plays are being done in many places nowadays.

People will pay attention to what's happening, there's no need to worry too much about someone simply ignoring the action. Besides, even casual YouTubers do positional sound nowadays, which can be used to "lead" the spectator.