Abstract The polysemic nature of the term representation is widely recognized, and we know that in English it may refer to (1) perceptions and conceptions, (2) mechanisms of delegation, and (3) performances, in the sense of something “staged.” This is often viewed as a problem by scholars dealing with political representation who fear that a seemingly solid notion might disappear behind uncontrolled shifts in meaning. However, it can be held to the contrary that the very nature of this type of relationship depends on how it is perceived by both the representatives and the represented. It is also the outcome of the way in which representatives defend the interest of the represented, as well as how they present themselves and those they claim to embody. Most representatives are expected to fulfill a function of expression of the represented group. As its visible face, they are a kind of living symbol. It is in this regard that the complementarity of the theatrical dimension becomes clearly apparent. The chapter offers some preliminary reflections about the theatricality of politics and on the parallels that can be established between dramatic art and the staging of representation. It then turns to the issue of performativity, that is, to the efficacy of the process and its ability to achieve certain results. Finally, with a view to show concretely how a theatrical approach of representation (combined with the two other aspects) can yield rich findings, developments are proposed on the ways in which political actors deal with the opposing imperatives of eminence and nearness.