At the very moment of creation, theatre may be ‘of its time’ or be ‘timeless’. That is to say the production has a life beyond that which was originally expected. Whilst a reasonable assessment may be made as to a play’s immediacy, it is impossible to tell with any accuracy whether the piece will endure. The designed terms of engagement; however, may undergo something of a resonance shift, subsequently establishing a useful range within which the play can operate, thereby readily connecting with different audience types. Under these circumstances, an element of timelessness emerges, further fuelling the play’s useful life.  Whilst it is not possible for playwrights to design or discern ‘legacy’ at the time of writing, they can ask the question: why now? In so doing, they may well be incognizant to the fact they have also answered the question “why then?” as they write a play which speaks across time.

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