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ACW PROGRESSES PLANS FOR A NATIONAL WELSH LANGUAGE THEATRE COMPANY |
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The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) today reiterated its commitment to establish a National Welsh Language Theatre Company, by outlining its vision for the project, in accordance with the priorities in its Draft Arts Development Strategy for 2002-2007. ACW aims to work closely with the Welsh-language theatre sector in Wales to establish an independent producing company with an artistic leader to plan a programme of productions that would deliver an exciting and contemporary style of theatre, which has meaning and relevance but is also flexible enough to compete successfully with other media. This will mean taking advantage of the standard literary repertoire and also commissioning new work. Peter Tyndall, ACW's chief executive says: "Our challenge is to help create a company that will produce programmes of work spanning a variety of genres with an appeal to mainstream audiences in large and medium scale venues across Wales. Productions should be of a very high standard, attractive and imaginative with the opportunity to use large casts where appropriate. "The provision of opportunities for training and career development will ensure that the company provides work in Wales for talented people, including those Welsh speaking actors who are not currently working on Welsh stages." Mr Tyndall said the project also aimed to establish the reputation of the company and Wales-produced drama on the international drama scene, and would also help nurture new work written in Welsh. An innovative approach to access, for example through the use of surtitles to assist Welsh language learners to appreciate the work, would also help ensure broad appeal. ACW has earmarked £50,000 to establish the new company and the task of setting up the Steering Committee is already in hand. Membership of this Steering Committee will include experienced theatre professionals, writers and theatre managers and its remit will be to establish the new company and to recruit its Board members. This process will conform with Nolan rules with the opportunities openly advertised. As a short term measure and in order to ensure that productions are available as soon as possible, ACW has also earmarked a total of £200,000 as grants towards creating two main-stage Welsh language productions for touring during 2003. Full details of how to apply are available by contacting your local ACW office. ACW will make a bid to the Welsh Assembly Government for substantial additional funds as revenue funding for the new company for 2003-2004 onwards. |
| Arts Council of Wales web site: www.ccc-acw.org.uk |
| Matt English, Communications Officer, The Arts Council of Wales e-mail: |
Wednesday, May 1, 2002 |
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