"Naturally. The actors play to their audience. The more engaged they are, the better the show. The actors feed off that energy - it gives them purpose beyond simply reciting lines to empty air. There's nothing quite like it, really, the feel of all those eyes on the stage.
"In the summers, we stage children's stories, and allow the youngsters to stand 'round the edge of the stage, get up close to the action. The fascination, the rapt looks of attention and awe." He smiled. "Those performances are sometimes the best we'll have all year."