'But of course,' Rupert Goold adds, 'you have no idea it will be as successful as it turned out to be. Every time I went back to see it - at Chichester, in the West End or on Broadway - I would always be pleasantly surprised by how good it was.'

So how does he now feel about his new version of Six Characters in Search of an Author, which is now in repertoir in the Minerva Theatre at Chichester?

'It's much riskier and more provocative than Macbeth. It's unsettling like I think Macbeth was but doesn't have a single character arc like that play.'

He has adapted Pirandello's 1921 play with Ben Power, moving the setting from a theatre rehearsal to a 21st century film studio where a documentary is being made.

Rupert, 36, says: 'As a writer/director, in terms of the form of the show I'm more excited by this than I was by Macbeth. It's more experimental, and quite what the audience will make of it I don't know.

'We had four or five people leave on the first night of Maceth here and I suspect we will have some people leave this.
'The original script addresses an incestuous story which is pretty strong, but we will be occupying a slot in the festival for people who want a challenge.'

The Fritzl story from Austria, of a man who imprisoned his daughter in a dungeon and had seven children by her, emerged after the Six Characters adaptation was complete, but Rupert says it was discussed by the company.

'What's relevant for our show is not just what went on but the way the media covered it.

'Once the media circus begins being voyeuristic about trauma, it's almost impossible to disentangle truth from fiction. What this play does is show the difference between a documentary about real events and the real events themselves.

'But it's also just a great story,' he adds.

It might seem curious that a man with such a focus on the blurring of fiction and reality will shortly direct the West End Oliver! whose
Nancy was cast by public vote in a 'reality' TV series.

But he says the selection process was more rigorous than 'your average audition' and he would have been happy with any of the final four candidates.

'Jodie has great presence and will be fine. The others may ultimately be more exciting talents but you need a bit of experience.'
Rupert will become an associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2010.

Six Characters in Search of an Author runs in repertoire until August 23. Tickets: (01243) 781312.