IT IS VITAL THAT SUPPORT IS GIVEN TO GWENT THEATRE THEY IGNITE AND THEN NURTURE AN INTEREST IN THE ARTS IN OUR CHILDREN.

During the Assembly Plenary on 13 October; William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) will challenge the Heritage Minister over Gwent Theatre funding.

“I am perplexed by the Arts Council of Wales decision to completely withdraw funding for Gwent Theatre; which places in jeopardy the future of Theatre in Education to the Greater Gwent area ”.

“For over 30 years this Theatre Company has served Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Newport and Torfaen, some of the areas of highest deprivation in Wales, offering many children the only opportunity they will have to experience live theatre”.

“In the last academic year (2009 – 2010) they delivered 220 performances to 14,213 young people in 219 schools”.

“It is acknowledged that such theatrical activities inspire increased interest by school pupils right across the curriculum; notably in creative writing, reading, the visual arts, history and politics. The enthusiasm to participated in the dramatic arts is illustrated by their highly acclaimed Gwent Young People’s Theatre, which last year produced seven productions, with 5183 youth theatre attendances and audience figures of 1,794”.

“It is vital that we support establishments like the Millennium Centre and Welsh National Opera; but it is equally vital that support is given to those organisations, like Gwent Theatre, who ignite and then nurture an interest in the arts in our children. We need a full debate on arts funding; it is not in the future interests of the arts in Wales totally withdraw funding for Theatre in Education for any region of Wales”.