We are living through a crisis of empathy and, more precisely, of empathy not being learned. We’re quick to cut off those we disagree with, and the conditions that might allow for empathy to flourish — time, attention, presence and vulnerability — are increasingly scarce. Crucially, they do so in the presence of others — before audiences who are themselves engaged in the rare act of collective attention. And crucially, they do so in the presence of others—before audiences who are themselves engaged in the rare act of collective attention. Outside the theatre, this collective attention is increasingly rare and necessary.