THIS Monday will be a dark day for the arts in mid Wales, as the Theatr Powys theatre company shut up shop, leave the drama centre and hand over the keys.
In an emotional letter, the chief organisers at Theatr Powys said that their services had been made redundant, following the withdrawal of crucial funding by the Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
Despite suggestions of a reduced provision, these proposals were ‘rejected on all fronts’, the company has said.
“On April 4, an integrated provision of theatre in education, community theatre touring, youth theatre and youth arts, and a skills and technical resource that has supported many other ventures in mid Wales and further afield, will close,” the letter states.
“This provision has been centrally managed and mentored by a company of committed individuals for 39 years.
“The withdrawal of Arts Council of Wales (ACW) revenue funding, announced in June of last year, and the subsequence closure of Theatr Powys by Powys County Council on Tuesday, March 15, has decreed this integrated provision to be redundant.
“Theatr Powys was clear that the ACW decision placed the local authority in a very difficult position. The Company proposed and argued that a reduced provision, preserving the central policy and practice of this Company was sustainable. This proposal has been rejected on all fronts. It has been deemed unsustainable.
“Members of Theatr Powys are left with no other option than the struggle to remain true to the value of their art and attempt future practice with no real hint of resourcing.”
The letter stresses that Powys County Council has committed itself to supporting Mid Powys Youth Theatre (MPYT) and says, “We will fight for its future integrity and authenticity.”
The closure of Theatr Powys as a theatre company has meant that eight members of staff face immediate redundancy, as of Monday.
There will be two performances at the Drama Centre in the company’s final week, including ‘Ashes’ by MPYT tonight (Friday, April 1) at 7.30pm.