William Graham (Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales East) questioned the Heritage Minister concerning the withdrawal of funding from Theatre Gwent.
William asked “May I ask you to look once again at the position of Theatre Gwent. Whilst they have (ironically for the first time) just been awarded Arts Council of Wales funding for youth theatre – and attract over 1,000 pupils every week. However; the decision of the Arts Council of Wales not to fund their Theatre in Education programme has effectively decapitated the Company. No other provider of theatre in schools is likely to take over this responsibility – depriving many children of their only opportunity to experience live artistic performance”.
“The Minister’s reply that he could not comment of specific funding issues and that there was no uniform provision of theatre in education across Wales is not acceptable”.
“Theatre Gwent provided many children throughout South Wales with their only opportunity to experience live theatre; and the stimulus such performances give to the study of subjects across the whole curriculum – creative writing, design, historical costumes and architecture”.
“The decision not to continue funding for Theatre Gwent was a decision to create gaps in the general education of our children”.
