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F YOU are one of the hundreds of thousands who enjoy HTV’s Nuts and Bolts, you’ll know how important good writing is to good drama. But the theatre company which inspired some of the writers behind this series - Made in Wales - will shut down at the end of this month. Made in Wales has been performing plays for almost 20 years, in front of thousands of people. Along with many writers, directors and actors, I believe the company should be saved. That’s why we’ve launched a campaign to keep Made in Wales open. We want the Arts Council of Wales to suspend its strategy on New Writing; it’s a mess and they know it’s a mess. Last month, the council was forced to make a U-turn regarding its plans for young people’s theatre. The New Writing fund, which helps writers to produce new plays, is being cut by nearly 30 per cent. How can we trust a quango which is already under investigation by the Welsh Assembly’s Culture Secretary, and whose own chairman Sybil Crouch admitted this week “there were - and are - a number of flaws in the strategy”? If the Arts Council has no confidence in its own policy, then why should we? New writing is often risky but it can pay off. Look at the vibrant theatre scene in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish Arts Council spends five times as much on new writing as its Welsh counterpart. There’s still time for a rethink. While we’re waiting, perhaps the Arts Council can answer a few simple questions. First, how is the proposed new body (run by Welsh-language company Dalier Sylw) going to maintain the current level of productions when its budget has been cut by £90,000? Second, where will the new company be based, given the incredibly bad tempered atmosphere, which your reforms have generated? Third, how can you square your stated belief that Made in Wales is “held in high regard” with a decision to shut the company down? If you care about live theatre, please join the campaign. You’ll find more details on the Theatre in Wales Web site, www.cambria.demon.co.uk . Lobby your AM. Write a rude letter (or a nice one if you like) to the Arts Council. Go on. Peter Morgan is a reporter for ITN’s Channel Four News. His first stage play, Venus was staged by Made in Wales last month |
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Thursday, March 9, 2000 |
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