Paddy Cooper reports on the one-day symposium in Aberystwyth:A one-day congregation of some of the influential and the interested with regard to Welsh theatre met in the confines of Aberystwyth Arts Centre’s cinema on October 5th to discuss the contentious issue of a National Theatre for Wales, particularly with reference to an English language version of such an entity. Hosted by Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television studies, under the stewardship of Dr. Anwen Jones and the chairmanship of Prof. Ioan Williams, this symposium aimed to address, discuss and debate the vexed issue of National Theatres – their positive contribution, their potential problems, what it is they aim to represent and, overall, their validity, necessity and potential forms, with particular reference to Wales, where the concept of a National Theatre has been debated and experimented with for some considerable time. Individual speakers included the TFTVS Department’s Dr. Roger Owen, who weighed up the need for a national theatre alongside its purpose, Dr. Anwen Jones, who charted the history of the struggle to establish such an organisation, Elwyn Williams (Marketing Officer for Welsh-language NT Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), who discussed ThGC’s rise as well as how and who it addresses, Rebecca Robinson (Drama Advisor to the Scottish Arts Council), who outlined the model for the comparatively new National Theatre of Scotland and Holly Maples of the University of East Anglia, who discussed the recent travails of the Abbey Theatre – the National Theatre of Ireland – in the context of its developmental history. The afternoon concluded with a panel discussion, chaired by Chris Ryde – National Organiser for Equity and Chair of the Wales Association for the Performing Arts – with contributions from Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s Associate Director Tim Baker, Director of Creu Cymru Richard Hogger and Sandra Wynne, the Arts Council of Wales’s Senior Arts Development Officer (Drama). This panel raised lively points of debate to supplement the wider discussion of the day (both from speakers and audience) and culminated in the announcement from Ms. Wynne of the imminent advertising for a Chairman and, subsequently, Board for a new, non-building-based, touring National Theatre for Wales. The day was marked by energetic debate of the pros and cons for a national theatre institution in terms of Welsh culture, linguistic issues, quality of artistic output, vision and, of necessity, funding. This is an issue which will remain contentious while it is being enacted. It was, however, as Tim Baker noted, frustrating that the turnout – probably less than fifty – was not larger, and that more of those on the front line of the dramatic arts in Wales did not engage in this event. Nevertheless, the points raised and the profile of those raising it certainly added to the sensation that this was a symposium which has the capacity to aid in a substantial paradigm shift in the approach to theatre on a national scale within Wales. |
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Friday, October 5, 2007 |
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