I think buildings need to be more mindful of one important aspect of their work. That they should be safe homes for creative risk taking, and radical free speech. Everywhere we look this feels under threat – by the culture wars dividing our communities, by pro-active pressure groups who are increasingly litigious, by a fractious social media environment, by shrinking public subsidy, by cost pressures driving more ‘safe’ and commercial programming.

I’ve been a producer and I’ve been part of the stage management team, so I’ve seen the actors from the other side of the sticky green tape that marks out the set on the floor. I still loved them and I’ve seen how, sometimes, we might not be that lovable. I’ve also seen how hard it is to keep a play afloat, to stop the icebergs from sinking the show at all the different stages of development, and how actors and producers alike can make you wish, to extend the metaphor, that you never left shore in the first place.

“Working-class creatives like myself are some of the most hardworking, talented people you will ever meet, our work ethic is embedded into us, and our pure passion pushes us through doors that have been previously closed firmly shut - we are a force to be reckoned with.”

Exposure to the Arts gently, carefully, from an early age, teaches people valuable life lessons about communication, empathy, connection, kindness, as well as helping them give voice to feelings they may not otherwise have felt strong enough to explore.

Solution-focused therapist Juan Carlos Gouveia explains the many hidden benefits in going to a show.