IT has been fascinating to read the letters about “This May Hurt a Bit” from your four correspondents, all of whom clearly love the Octagon and want it to have a healthy future.

We value all audience feedback and are grateful to those who have taken the trouble to share their thoughts with us and engage in this important debate. The letters all address the question of what Mr Carter calls “the role of the arts within our society”.

All four correspondents agree that theatre should encourage “political debate”, but there might be a difference of opinion about whether the Octagon should be, in Carol Ridings’ words, “a place where we go to escape the turmoil of reality” or whether, as Mr and Mrs Woods put it, “there is a place for a play that makes a statement, whether you agree with it or not”.

Most polls suggest that the future of the NHS is the single issue (next to the economy) that most concerns voters.

A very large proportion of the audience for This May Hurt A Bit have been people who either work in the NHS or have experienced both the wonderful care and the serious challenges the NHS faces.

The overwhelming response from them has been one of deep gratitude that the Octagon is tackling such a crucial issue.

I believe the Octagon should be “a place where we go to escape the turmoil of reality” AND one where we, as Dave Carter puts it, “encourage conversation, debate and argument”.

The last four plays of what Mr and Mrs Woods call “a wonderfully diverse programme of plays” will give the people of Bolton exactly such opportunities — beginning with Tom Kempinski’s wonderful plays, Duet for One and Separation, which are funny, challenging and intensely moving.

No other theatre audience in the world has ever been given the opportunity of seeing these two plays performed in repertoire — another first for the Octagon, of which the people of Bolton are so proud.

David Thacker Artistic Director Octagon Theatre Bolton