One must be careful, benito, I agree.

We must be careful not to be ungenerous with each other.

We must be careful not to endow art or theatre with false praise.

We must be careful not to flatter for the sake of political favour (flattery is an opiate of the deeply insecure)

We must be careful not to let ego or taste or temperament get in the way of engaging with works.

We must be careful. I agree.

It is a huge responsiblity to back something/someone.

But it must be done.

It is tough being seen as a critic. And it’s even tougher being a critic and an artist. But for me, I see my writing about theatre as important as my making of theatre – they are two halves of the same thing (which is theatre).

I don’t agree with Stephen Dunne (historically this has always been the case) about the eithe/or. I just think it’s about being courteous, articulate, generous, honest and brave.

I’ve been reviewing work since 2007 and I have worked with over 400 artists since then… I find no need to be brutal, but I am always honest.

I think.

What do you think of that response, Benito? Keen to brutally critique it?

I think there is absolutely no shame in not knowing how to articulate your response to art – but failure to even attempt to articulate something, is a tragedy.

I believe all Art is a conversation.

The most important things to remember for anyone seeing theatre (regardless artists themselves or curious/dedicated punters) is this:

because art is a conversation – be a good conversationalist (be a good audience member).

Practice being a good conversationalist.

Being a good audience involves a few key things –

1. Be relaxed and not flustered when you are about to see someone’s show. It has taken them years to reach this point in their practice and they deserve not to have a tough crowd just because parking is a nightmare/trains don’t run on time.

2. Don’t take out your week on a play. So you’ve broken up with your partner, your dog died, your rent’s overdue, you hate your boss and the pad thai before your show was cold. So what. Leave it at the door of the theatre. Give yourself permission to surrender to and enjoy the experience.

3.Don’t go to the theatre drunk or hung over. I regard the act of making and consuming theatre like that of operating heavy machinery – it’s a big deal – as it should be, it has the capacity to change your thinking (and I think your mind is a major machine).. being drunk/hungover/on drugs inhibits and distorts thinking – and that makes the transformative moments of theatre so much harder if you are distracted like that.

4. Never sit down in a theatre seat unless you know FOR CERTAIN you don’t need to go to the bathroom for the length of the performance.

5. Make sure you have something to eat – being hungry when watching theatre (especially theatre involving cooking on stage) CAN BE TORTURE!!!)

6. Never forget the artists need you and can feel you – they may act like you’re not there, but they are keenly aware of everything on stage and in the audience. As such it is your responsibility to make sure you are utterly present. You are important in your attendence.

After all art is a conversation – and you want to be an equal participant. The artists want you to engage with their work.