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PERSONAL STATEMENT BY JEFF TEARE
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ACW's new drama strategy speaks of ACW being 'committed to innovation and to new work'. Also that 'development of new writing in Welsh and in English will continue to be a priority'. In fact ACW's drama strategy is to cut £90,000 from new writing and the excuse that what's left of the other Welsh theatre companies can significantly increase their involvement with new writing soon falls apart if these companies are actually spoken to. What's more, one would have thought that the well-known history of the total failure of ACGB's attempts of the late 70's and 80's to first preserve and then promote new-writing provision in non-specialist venues throughout Great Britain, clearly demonstrates the futility of ACW pursuing such a strategy in Wales today.
Further, ACW's new drama strategy refers to 'a shift of emphasis for the Sherman'. ACW's letter of the 20th of October seeking 'outline plans' for a new new writing company states that 'Council intends continuing to fund Sherman Theatre Ltd under its current proposals'. The Sherman is 'free, if it so wishes, to be an applicant either singly or in partnership with others' but it is also stated that 'the ACW decision invites the Sherman Theatre Ltd. to be a partner to whichever bid is successful'. I fail to understand how the new writing drama strategy consultation could arrive at this conclusion.
Why does the Sherman Theatre Ltd. have to either be the new new writing company itself or be an enforced partner for whoever else is?
ACW's letter may invite the Sherman Theatre Ltd. to be a partner in whichever bid is successful but for any other bid to be successful the Sherman's has to fail. Is this likely to be a creative beginning for a new partnership?
As the Sherman Theatre Ltd. is to continue to be funded under its current proposals but Made In Wales and Dalier Sylw are to be cut, are we to assume that the Sherman's operation of its young people's theatre policy is adjudged to have been a success whereas Made In Wales and Dalier Sylw have failed with new writing? If this is the case, why are Made In Wales and Dalier Sylw still being invited to be involved? If it is not the case, what is?
Lastly, the model for the new new writing company outlined in ACW's letter is not one that I can support. The letter assumes 'the new organisation or initiative will be in residence at the Sherman for its public activities but, will need to rehearse and have office space elsewhere'. This is no better, and given the funding now actually available much worse, than what has been going on (more or less) for a number of years. ACW is, quite rightly, not satisfied with what has been going on for a number of years so where's the commitment 'to innovation and to new work' in that?
Wales drastically needs a dedicated new writing theatre. In the absence of this, identifying new writing with a building which also operates other policies is regrettably necessary. However, unless the new new writing company is fundamental to, and totally integrated with, the operation of the building it is based in with a direct, clear and positive relationship with the overall management of that building then new writing will suffer. As a specialist new writing director of over twenty years experience, sometimes bitter experience in at least six other theatres I have worked in has made this very clear to me.
The writers and audiences of Wales deserve better and it is very much with this in mind that Made In Wales submits its 'outline plan'.
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Jeff Teare
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Tuesday, November 30, 1999 |
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