Theatre is refusing to be dimmed in Wales. Nick Davies looks behind the headlines to see what's going on in the sector - and what could soon be lost.
“It’s actually a really exciting time for theatre here in Wales. A real opportunity for change,” says Abdul Shayek, leader of Cardiff-based company Fio. It is not the answer many would expect when discussing how the theatre industry in Wales might come through a global pandemic. Shayek is discussing the industry’s struggle with the Covid-19 lockdown alongside its response to the Black Lives Matter movement – an overlap on a Venn diagram promising, in his view, possibilities for substantive change as much as systemic challenges. “Coronavirus has meant that everything has re-focused in theatre. So-called outreach and community engagement used to be things that happened on the side, away from the main show – like the B team at a theatre company – but now the most active people are the ones doing the outreach work, continuing the conversations with audiences, including looking at diversity on stages and in organisations.” It is a pleasingly upbeat attitude that has led to the formation of a Wales Culture and Race Task Force, aiming to highlight and draw attention to the lack of opportunities for Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse people within the arts sector.'... Keep reading on Wales Arts Review
“It’s actually a really exciting time for theatre here in Wales. A real opportunity for change,” says Abdul Shayek, leader of Cardiff-based company Fio. It is not the answer many would expect when discussing how the theatre industry in Wales might come through a global pandemic. Shayek is discussing the industry’s struggle with the Covid-19 lockdown alongside its response to the Black Lives Matter movement – an overlap on a Venn diagram promising, in his view, possibilities for substantive change as much as systemic challenges. “Coronavirus has meant that everything has re-focused in theatre. So-called outreach and community engagement used to be things that happened on the side, away from the main show – like the B team at a theatre company – but now the most active people are the ones doing the outreach work, continuing the conversations with audiences, including looking at diversity on stages and in organisations.” It is a pleasingly upbeat attitude that has led to the formation of a Wales Culture and Race Task Force, aiming to highlight and draw attention to the lack of opportunities for Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse people within the arts sector.'... Keep reading on Wales Arts Review