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GYPT Members Challenge Arts Council Boss
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Arts Council of Wales boss, Nick Capaldi, attended a rehearsal of ‘Gormenghast’, the next production being created by Gwent Young People’s Theatre (GYPT).
He had accepted an invitation to meet members of GYPT about the prospects for the group in light of the decision to axe funding to Gwent Theatre, its parent company.
After watching some detailed rehearsal, Capaldi was pressed by the young actors for an answer as to why a whole region of South East Wales is being stripped of theatre in education.
Apparently impressed by their work, he disclosed that project funding, for which GYPT had been invited to apply, would be forthcoming in the future.
The youth theatre members refused to be diverted and pressed him for facts surrounding the imminent demise of Gwent Theatre itself.
They told him that without Gwent Theatre there would not be a Gwent Young People’s Theatre. That it was seeing the company’s productions in schools that had spurred them to join GYPT.
Zoe Jofeh of Abergavenny questioned him over why the three companies which serve South East Wales – Gwent, Spectacle and Powys –are being cut, whilst five others will continue as before, receiving funding from the Arts Council of Wales.
Aidan Jones of Tredegar told him: “It’s terrible that there won’t be any good theatre for young people in schools in Tredegar and Ebbw Vale.”
And James Morgan of Abergavenny asked him: “How can you jeopardise such a well recognised company that’s full of creative people who give so much to the community?”
And the response?
“After acknowledging that Gwent Theatre was a “unique company” he danced around the questions but in the end had to admit that nothing else would be put in its place,” said James.
“I told him that the young people of the area needed something like Gwent Theatre and asked him why they had to cut something that has so many gifted individuals. But he didn’t really answer. Without Gwent Theatre there will be no link from the schools to GYPT as we now know it. The Arts Council is taking away the future prospects of young people by cutting our opportunities.”
Former member, Leighton Martin, who is now a professional actor and director added: “He’s very good at evading questions so that he doesn’t give clear and concise answers.”
Gregg Taylor, Chairman of Gwent Theatre, said: “The students were fantastic, asking incisive questions and showing how knowledgeable they were of the political structure.”
“Their questions exposed how unaccountable the Arts Council really is because the young people didn’t get any answers. The responses from Mr Capaldi didn’t answer their questions. It’s now up to the Welsh Assembly Government to hold the Arts Council to account.”
Gormenghast will be staged at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, in February.
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Saturday, December 18, 2010 |
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