7:84, the poltical theatre company founded in the early seventies by John McGrath, could close by August after losing its core funding of £250,000 a year from the Scottish Arts Council. It will be eligible to apply for project funding from March of next year but such funding is not guaranteed.The rationale behind the decision is the Arts Council's new priority of supporting the artist. 7:84 is seen as too audience focused. The current play Free-Fall looks as if it will be the last touring production by Scotland's only political theatre company. General manager Ruth Ogston said: "We're in shock and so deeply sad and angry that the company's work over 33 years has been wiped out under new criteria that ignores audiences. We will be appealing against this decision but fear the company and the Scottish touring circuit and vast audiences will not be respected enough for a decision to be revoked." Commenting on the decision, Scottish Trades Union Council assistant secretar Stephen Boyd said, "The STUC is appalled at this decision and we cannot understand the bizarre rationale offered by the SAC. It is simply unacceptable that a pioneering, popular, and innovative theatre company should be penalised for being 'audience-focused'." Glasgow Nationalist MSP Sandra White described the decision as "an outrage" and said, "This company is a national istiotution and should not be destroyed." [this news story was first published on the British Theatre Guide web site] |
| british theatre guide web site: www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/784threat.htm |
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Monday, March 6, 2006 |
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