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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Regional UK theatres need more public funds, says leading director | Regional UK theatres need more public funds, says leading director |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Exclusive: Sir Richard Eyre says cuts make it harder to take artistic risks with new talent | Exclusive: Sir Richard Eyre says cuts make it harder to take artistic risks with new talent |
| Dalya Alberge | Dalya Alberge |
| Thu 1 Feb 2018 13.18 GMT | Thu 1 Feb 2018 13.18 GMT |
| Last modified on Thu 1 Feb 2018 18.41 GMT | |
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| The former head of the National Theatre, Sir Richard Eyre, is calling for regional theatres to receive more support from the public purse, warning that funding cuts are making it more difficult for them to take artistic risks with new productions and talent. | The former head of the National Theatre, Sir Richard Eyre, is calling for regional theatres to receive more support from the public purse, warning that funding cuts are making it more difficult for them to take artistic risks with new productions and talent. |
| He told the Guardian: “They’re having a hard time with cuts from local authorities, cuts from the Arts Council, and then rising prices. There’s a sort of dilatory attitude to public support of culture in this country. I think that government and education must and should play a part in it. It’s not a question of feather-bedding. It’s just part of the responsibility of a modern state. | He told the Guardian: “They’re having a hard time with cuts from local authorities, cuts from the Arts Council, and then rising prices. There’s a sort of dilatory attitude to public support of culture in this country. I think that government and education must and should play a part in it. It’s not a question of feather-bedding. It’s just part of the responsibility of a modern state. |
| “Go to France or Germany, Spain or Italy, and see it done much more responsibly … You can say, ‘well, let it all die’ … I think that would be a terrible tragedy, particularly in this country, where there’s such an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage.” | “Go to France or Germany, Spain or Italy, and see it done much more responsibly … You can say, ‘well, let it all die’ … I think that would be a terrible tragedy, particularly in this country, where there’s such an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage.” |
| He spoke to the Guardian as chair of the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme, which on Thursday announces the winners of its five 2017 bursaries. | He spoke to the Guardian as chair of the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme, which on Thursday announces the winners of its five 2017 bursaries. |
| Over four decades, the scheme has identified some of the best new British writers. They include Martin McDonagh, whose satire on terrorism, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, returns to the West End this summer, and whose film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, has just been Oscar-nominated. | Over four decades, the scheme has identified some of the best new British writers. They include Martin McDonagh, whose satire on terrorism, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, returns to the West End this summer, and whose film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, has just been Oscar-nominated. |
| British theatres are invited each year to submit work by any writer they believe has real potential. Each winner receives £10,000 and a year-long attachment to a theatre. During that period, each writer is expected to produce at least one new full-length play, and the five plays then compete for the £7,500 Sonia Friedman Productions award the following year. | British theatres are invited each year to submit work by any writer they believe has real potential. Each winner receives £10,000 and a year-long attachment to a theatre. During that period, each writer is expected to produce at least one new full-length play, and the five plays then compete for the £7,500 Sonia Friedman Productions award the following year. |
| The 2016 winner – Francis Turnly’s The Great Wave, a thriller set in Japan and North Korea, written while on attachment at the Tricycle Theatre – receives its world premiere at the National Theatre in March. | The 2016 winner – Francis Turnly’s The Great Wave, a thriller set in Japan and North Korea, written while on attachment at the Tricycle Theatre – receives its world premiere at the National Theatre in March. |
| Eyre, a leading director of stage and screen, has won numerous Oliviers, among other awards. He headed the National between 1987 and 1997, where his acclaimed productions included Richard III with Ian McKellen. He staged new plays by David Hare, among others, and gave Patrick Marber his big break. | Eyre, a leading director of stage and screen, has won numerous Oliviers, among other awards. He headed the National between 1987 and 1997, where his acclaimed productions included Richard III with Ian McKellen. He staged new plays by David Hare, among others, and gave Patrick Marber his big break. |
| Noting that the bursary scheme was initiated by Thames TV in 1973 and taken on by Channel 4 in 2013, Eyre said: “The theatre has always been a breeding ground for television writers.” | Noting that the bursary scheme was initiated by Thames TV in 1973 and taken on by Channel 4 in 2013, Eyre said: “The theatre has always been a breeding ground for television writers.” |
| Asked about the overall quality of the submitted scripts, he said: “Very few are you tempted to throw across the room. That’s the criterion of a play that’s interesting.” | Asked about the overall quality of the submitted scripts, he said: “Very few are you tempted to throw across the room. That’s the criterion of a play that’s interesting.” |
| The 2017 bursary winners include Adura Onashile, 41, for a play set in a nightclub, titled Expensive Shit. She will now write her next play while attached to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. | The 2017 bursary winners include Adura Onashile, 41, for a play set in a nightclub, titled Expensive Shit. She will now write her next play while attached to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. |
| She said this was crucial support, having relied partly on her partner to keep writing: “If I was single, I probably wouldn’t be a playwright … A lot of playwrights drop out for that reason.” | She said this was crucial support, having relied partly on her partner to keep writing: “If I was single, I probably wouldn’t be a playwright … A lot of playwrights drop out for that reason.” |
| Eyre expressed concern that emerging playwrights receive barely a few thousand pounds for their plays, despite the time involved in researching and developing ideas: “To become a full-time writer, you either need to have a private income or a job. That’s another reason why the support we offer is so important.” | Eyre expressed concern that emerging playwrights receive barely a few thousand pounds for their plays, despite the time involved in researching and developing ideas: “To become a full-time writer, you either need to have a private income or a job. That’s another reason why the support we offer is so important.” |
| His 2016 Bristol Old Vic production of Eugene O’Neill’s masterpiece Long Day’s Journey Into Night, starring Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville, has just transferred to the West End. Despite such acclaimed productions, the historic playhouse suffered a drastic funding cut last year. The city council slashed its grant from £288,000 to £100,000. | His 2016 Bristol Old Vic production of Eugene O’Neill’s masterpiece Long Day’s Journey Into Night, starring Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville, has just transferred to the West End. Despite such acclaimed productions, the historic playhouse suffered a drastic funding cut last year. The city council slashed its grant from £288,000 to £100,000. |
| Tom Stickland, a Theatres Trust adviser, said Bristol’s experience shows that even established theatres with a prestigious history of producing work are subject to local authority cuts. | Tom Stickland, a Theatres Trust adviser, said Bristol’s experience shows that even established theatres with a prestigious history of producing work are subject to local authority cuts. |
| He added: “Revenue subsidies are being cut as public sector budgets come under increasing pressure. This is worsened by the urgent need for many theatres to undergo building repairs and improvements … The sustainability of riskier artistic projects and impactful community work could be threatened if cuts continue on this scale.” | He added: “Revenue subsidies are being cut as public sector budgets come under increasing pressure. This is worsened by the urgent need for many theatres to undergo building repairs and improvements … The sustainability of riskier artistic projects and impactful community work could be threatened if cuts continue on this scale.” |
| Eyre regularly hears of the daily struggles experienced by regional directors: “I don’t think there’s any exaggeration.” | Eyre regularly hears of the daily struggles experienced by regional directors: “I don’t think there’s any exaggeration.” |
| The winners | The winners |
| 2017 recipients, Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme bursaries: | 2017 recipients, Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme bursaries: |
| Sonali Bhattacharyya (Deepa The Saint): Orange Tree Theatre | Sonali Bhattacharyya (Deepa The Saint): Orange Tree Theatre |
| Asif Khan (Combustion): joint entry from RIFCO Arts and Watford Palace Theatre | Asif Khan (Combustion): joint entry from RIFCO Arts and Watford Palace Theatre |
| Natasha Marshall (Half Breed): Clean Break Theatre Company | Natasha Marshall (Half Breed): Clean Break Theatre Company |
| Janice Okoh (Egusi Soup): Menagerie Theatre Company | Janice Okoh (Egusi Soup): Menagerie Theatre Company |
| Adura Onashile (Expensive Shit): Traverse Theatre | Adura Onashile (Expensive Shit): Traverse Theatre |
| The Sonia Friedman Productions award: joint winners | The Sonia Friedman Productions award: joint winners |
| Melissa Bubnic (Monkey Work, Baboon Chop): Orange Tree Theatre | Melissa Bubnic (Monkey Work, Baboon Chop): Orange Tree Theatre |
| Chino Odimba (How To Walk To The Moon): Talawa | |
| Theatre | Theatre |
| National Theatre | National Theatre |
| Bristol Old Vic | Bristol Old Vic |
| Traverse theatre | Traverse theatre |
| Public finance | Public finance |
| Arts Council England | Arts Council England |
| news | news |
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