Michael sees it as a primary function of theatre to challenge and engage audiences with quality material that often pushes accepted boundaries and provokes discussion and response. There is no better example of this than his brave decision to stage Angels in America ? parts one and two ? in the 1996/97 season. To have two plays in a season without corporate sponsors is risky at any time, and more so when the material deals with AIDS, homosexuality and religion amongst its themes. Michael wasn?t disappointed by the response:
first by the outrage and protest expressed in some quarters, often by people who had not seen a performance; then by the overwhelming audience response, fuelled in part by the protest and controversy. It was not clear which pleased him more.

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