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Michael Foot Backs Fight To Save Theatre From Closure
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FORMER leader of the Labour Party Michael Foot has thrown his weight behind a campaign to save Gwent Theatre.
The theatre is in danger of closing after the Arts Council of Wales decided not to award it a franchise to provide theatre for young people in the area.
Mr Foot has urged the Arts Council to think again. His intervention follows Lord Islwyn's call for the resignations of the quango's chief executive Joanna Weston and chair Sybil Crouch.
Lord Islwyn told the House of Lords on Wednesday that there was a need for a full inquiry into the Arts Council's handling of its drama strategy.
In a letter to The Western Mail, Mr Foot said the arts council had made a "serious error of judgment which could have enormously damaging repercussions beyond the world of the theatre".
Mr Foot is one of a series of high-profile figures who have given their backing to Gwent Theatre. Others include musical impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh and comedian Jo Brand.
Gwent Theatre is one of three theatres appealing against Arts Council of Wales decisions. The other two are Theatr Powys and Clwyd Theatr Cymru.
Mr Foot said, "In the age of mass-produced entertainment and the television culture it seems to me that we need more groups of the calibre of Gwent Theatre to work in our communities, able to use the language of ideas instead of instant imagery or bureaucratic newspeak, rather than less."
Labour MPs Don Touhig, Huw Edwards and Llew Smith have raised the issue in Parliament and have called on the arts quango to suspend its drama strategy until an Assembly review of arts policy is completed next year.
The National Assembly's post-16 education, training and culture committee has confirmed that it will be questioning the Arts Council of Wales about its drama strategy to find out whether there are any flaws with its selection procedure.
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Western Mail
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Friday, December 10, 1999 |
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