For community theatre residencies, launch attendance says little about skills and relationships that remain after the company leaves. A credible study of community theatre residencies would follow participants for months, include those who leave, and retain artistic independence through a light framework of safety rules and accessible advice.

The evidence for community theatre residencies must also extend beyond opening week, particularly when asking whether skills and relationships remain after the company leaves. Unlike Writer A, I would give community theatre residencies a named coordinator, a published timetable and minimum reports so repeated problems lead to institutional learning.

What matters first in community theatre residencies is the initiative created among participants. To preserve artistic independence, administration around community theatre residencies should remain small, although attendance must later be checked against learning and continued involvement rather than celebrated alone.

Average outcomes for community theatre residencies conceal whose stories receive rehearsal time. I would examine access to community theatre residencies by time, location and prior confidence, then adjust support to the unequal pattern instead of assuming identical treatment is fair.