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How can the Arts Council of Wales announce their new writing theatre initiative as good news? It involves the complete closure of Made in Wales, a new writing theatre company working in English that even the Arts Council says is "held in high regard" and praises for its "vision and pragmatic approach". It involves a reduction in the number of new plays commissioned and produced. It involves the forced marriage of Welsh language and English language theatre writing into one company, a move vehemently opposed by the Writer's Guild. And, worst news of all, the surviving company is expected to undertake its important and difficult new role with a greatly reduced grant. As Chair of Made in Wales, I am committed to theatre for idealistic reasons : it is an arena where there can be diversity of voices, where a society can be inspired, upset, united and encouraged into debate about ideas. It is the live arena in which Wales can define its individuality and its culture. New writing theatre produces tomorrow's classic plays. Playwrights are also working in the research and development laboratory for the TV, radio and film industries. So money put into honing writers is an investment in the commercial health of the entertainment industry. Made in Wales has sought in vain to discover the Arts Council's vision, their long-term strategy. There seems to be no concrete vision for a vibrant home-grown theatre in, say, four years time. Where will that be? How will it be achieved? Instead, the supposed New Writing Strategy offers death by a thousand cuts. In four or five years time, we could well find new writing is a dried up chrysalis with no butterfly inside. For writers, actors, directors and technicians, the future looks to be outside Wales. What are ACW's target figures for projected employment, commissions and performances in future? There are none, because they would reveal a depressing reduction. Made in Wales will campaign for the suspension of the supposed "New Writing Strategy". If you value adventurous, accessible live theatre, please add your voice to that campaign. |
| Made in Wales web site: |
| Jane Dauncey e-mail: |
Tuesday, February 29, 2000 |
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