Trouble in Wales

Gwent Theatre has lost its appeal against the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) and is set to close in December following the withdrawal of £250,000 in annual funding (AP221). Gwent Theatre’s chairman, Gregg Taylor, said the decision would “destroy two theatre companies serving the south Wales valleys – the most economically and socially disadvantaged areas in western Europe – and also Powys, a large rural county whose children have little or no access to high quality theatre”. Founded in 1976, Gwent Theatre performed in 219 schools last year and worked with over 20,000 young people in the process. Its closure will see the loss of 40 jobs. Nick Capaldi, ACW’s Chief Executive, told AP: “We’ve consistently said that we’d do what we could to help the company through any process of transition.”