I feel a little guilty at the pleasant evening I’m having here at Lewes when the Minack Webcams are showing this:

This is partly because they need the good weather more than I, and partly because I’m taking it for granted – were I doing the show, I’d be glancing at the sky every two minutes.

On the other hand, the sheen the rain gives the stone and the reflection of the lights make the place look absolutely gorgeous.

The rain can add to a show: on the last night of Lear two years ago we had torrential rain during the storm scene. Half the audience left at the interval, but half the audience stayed (and the weather passed off on cue) and although it may be uncomfortable in the cold and wet perched on a stone seat in a cliff top theatre, it was undeniably good drama.