Live theatre rocks....

You could sit indoors and watch TV. You could spend your evenings assualted by an ever increasing glut of rubbish reality shows. You could say that it's too expensive to go out, and that it's REALLY too expensive to go to the theatre.

Well. It's worth it. There is nothing to beat it. The whole thing... sitting in the auditorium; waiting for curtain; orchestra striking up. The sound, the lights, the sets - it's all good.

As it happens, it was watching "Priscilla" at the Palace Theatre last night that made me think it. But it applies to anything really. And do you know what? There wasn't a recent reality TV "star" in the place. At least Zoe Birkett has trained!

AND, the only person in the cast with a recognisable set of TV credentials was Jason Donovan, who - I think it is fair to say - has proved himself as a theatre actor before this. He was great, but it was the whole show and whole cast that made the thing work. Especially Tony Sheldon, who was fantastic.

So go and see it. Or go and see something else. Just go and see stuff. And don't let people ask "Who's in it? Anyone off the tele?" - but encourage people to ask "Who wrote it? What's the story? What's the production like?"... anything.

The theatre last night was very full, and to a man (and woman!) everyone loved it, stood up, cheered, clapped and had a great time. Yep - it cost them more than sitting at home, but I bet it was better than X Factor!