Ms Freda Manweiler:

Young people, in particular those of a certain age, are a tough audience. They are super critical of what we present and it is the quality of the performance, the actor and the story that keeps them engaged. We often visit a school with an actor and the kids are sitting slouched in their chairs giving out the message "Impress us", because that is the nature of that age group. I have sat at the back of the room and watched what happens. They are engaged first because it is a live performance. They have not seen an actor before and might start to giggle initially, but as the story unfolds and as the actor presents his or her craft, the kids start to sit up, silence falls over the room and they become completely engaged. I always feel there is a moment where we can go: "We've got them now." Afterwards, they can ask questions about the story, which seems slightly removed from the issue, but is the issue. It is not like one person telling his or her story. It is removed from the individual. Then we have a discussion about the character and what he or she would do. This is how it works.