AS the future of Theatr Powys hangs in the balance politicians and council members have vowed to work together to save the organisation because a “black hole in Powys” will be created if it closes.
Speaking at what could be Mid Powys Youth Theatre’s last production under Theatr Powys, both Kirsty Williams AM and Gywn Gwillim, board member for leisure and recreation on Powys County Council offered their full backing for the cause, claiming that they will be “fighting their corner” in the Welsh Assembly and the council, after the Arts Council Wales decided to withdraw funding .
Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: “I think the decision of the ACW is hugely disappointing and will leave a black hole in Powys without anything to take its place. The ACW’s decision is now unbendable, we will now do what we can do to assist the council with keeping it going.”
Powys County Councillor Gwyn Gwillim, said Theatr Powys has been treated unfairly and the ACW is out of touch with Powys.
“I am concerned the ACW are out of touch with reality as far as Powys is concerned,” he said. “Theatr Powys has not been treated fairly and for reasons only known to the ACW, they don’t want theatre in education anymore. It’s beggars belief that they have withdrawn funding at Theatr Powys.
“It angers and annoys me, they need to come out from their ivory towers in Cardiff to Powys and give some care to Mid Wales.
“It annoys and angers me all the money that goes into Cardiff. They should come and meet real people.”
Mr Gwillim was unable to confirm what the future of the company would be at this point and said: “We can’t fund it in the same form that we are at the moment as we have lost all the ACW’s money.
"But we will do what we can and we hope the company will keep going. We will have to see where we will be in a few weeks, it’s still up in the air.”
County Councillor, Mike Hodges said: “I truly do not believe that this is the end. There will be a future, whether it will be called Theatr Powys I don’t know. My aspiration is to see our education department take on the whole ethos of Theatr Powys.”
Both Kirsty Williams and Gwyn Gwillum have thrown their weight behind the Campaign4Creativity (C4C) who are fighting the arts cuts in Mid Wales, signing and posting ballot papers in support of the cause.
Baely Saunders, administrator for C4C, told the audience at the end of Much Ado About Nothing: “Please vote for the continued opportunity of active participation in the arts – lets empower our county councillors to empower us. And lets at least show them that here in Mid Wales we look after our own.”
Ian Yeoman, artistic director at Theatr Powys, said: “I firmly believe the ACW has resinded its responsibility (to the arts). It is barbaric.”