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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| National theatre for Wales call | National theatre for Wales call |
| (4 days later) | |
| The Arts Council of Wales has made renewed calls for the Welsh Assembly Government to fund an English-language national theatre. | The Arts Council of Wales has made renewed calls for the Welsh Assembly Government to fund an English-language national theatre. |
| It wants a company created which would tour existing theatres across Wales. | It wants a company created which would tour existing theatres across Wales. |
| It says the annual cost would be about £2m, including £0.5m already committed to English-language theatre in May. | It says the annual cost would be about £2m, including £0.5m already committed to English-language theatre in May. |
| Culture Minister Alun Pugh said money had been set aside but warned the rejection of his government's draft budget may threaten the plans. | Culture Minister Alun Pugh said money had been set aside but warned the rejection of his government's draft budget may threaten the plans. |
| A Welsh-language national theatre already exists, but the arts council wants a touring English-language company to be created. | A Welsh-language national theatre already exists, but the arts council wants a touring English-language company to be created. |
| The non-building based model has already been tried out in Scotland, which launched its own national theatre this year with the financial support of the Scottish Executive. | The non-building based model has already been tried out in Scotland, which launched its own national theatre this year with the financial support of the Scottish Executive. |
| It has suggested the new company could have a base in the south Wales valleys and would commission work from the existing theatre infrastructure to appear under the National Theatre of Wales banner at venues in Wales and overseas. | It has suggested the new company could have a base in the south Wales valleys and would commission work from the existing theatre infrastructure to appear under the National Theatre of Wales banner at venues in Wales and overseas. |
| Director Michael Bogdanov is backing the idea | Director Michael Bogdanov is backing the idea |
| The assembly's culture committee discussed the proposals on Thursday. | The assembly's culture committee discussed the proposals on Thursday. |
| Culture Minister Mr Pugh said there was nothing to stop a national English-language theatre for Wales going ahead, adding that a £750,000 had been set aside in the assembly government's spending plans which would enable work to start on setting it up. | Culture Minister Mr Pugh said there was nothing to stop a national English-language theatre for Wales going ahead, adding that a £750,000 had been set aside in the assembly government's spending plans which would enable work to start on setting it up. |
| But Mr Pugh said the rejection this week of the assembly government's draft budget by opposition parties could threaten the project. | But Mr Pugh said the rejection this week of the assembly government's draft budget by opposition parties could threaten the project. |
| He said last year's budget discussions finished with less money for the culture budget adding that in the coming financial year "we must avoid at all costs a situation that culture takes a hit". | He said last year's budget discussions finished with less money for the culture budget adding that in the coming financial year "we must avoid at all costs a situation that culture takes a hit". |
| 'Showcase work' | 'Showcase work' |
| The plans have been welcomed by Neath-born director Michael Bogdanov, who is working with the Wales Theatre Company. | The plans have been welcomed by Neath-born director Michael Bogdanov, who is working with the Wales Theatre Company. |
| He told BBC Wales: "There have been successive attempts over the last century to get an English-language national Theatre off the ground and each one has bitten the dust. | He told BBC Wales: "There have been successive attempts over the last century to get an English-language national Theatre off the ground and each one has bitten the dust. |
| "I'm delighted that the idea has been resurrected and this one stands a chance of succeeding. | "I'm delighted that the idea has been resurrected and this one stands a chance of succeeding. |
| "What's needed is to draw together all the strands of English language theatre. We have fabulous practitioners but a lot of them work abroad. | "What's needed is to draw together all the strands of English language theatre. We have fabulous practitioners but a lot of them work abroad. |
| "They work in Hollywood, or London and the West End, particularly the actors. I think it's time we brought all of them together so we could showcase our best work, not only in Wales but in the rest of the world." | "They work in Hollywood, or London and the West End, particularly the actors. I think it's time we brought all of them together so we could showcase our best work, not only in Wales but in the rest of the world." |