Anyone who has seen the Danish film 'Festen' will know of the shock of disbelief it can induce. Last Saturday night I had the opportunity to observe several dozen people going through this same trauma during a stage performance of it in The Gate Theatre. As the critical scene occured, many in the audience reacted just as those in the on-stage dinner party did - quizzical laughter, realisation and silence. How relieved we all were it was only make-believe! Imagine trying to cope with something like that in real life?!