The Greater Purpose of Self-Indulgence A few year ago, while working with a touring theatre company, I had a debate with a touring partner of mine regarding the nobility of acting. He argued that there was nothing noble about his career choice. I begged to differ. “Theatre is all about empathy,” I said. “Theatre gets people to sit down and be quiet long enough to imagine what it would be like to be in someone else’s shoes. I’ve seen and read so many plays that have helped me understand that people I thought were completely different from me actually go through a lot of the same experiences.” Read next feature >