Memorandum submitted by Mr Richard Hugh
Card
ARTS DEVELOPMENT: MUSICAL THEATRE AND THE
THREATENED CLOSURE OF BRIDEWELL THEATRE (CITY OF LONDON)
For the past 10 years The Bridewell Theatre,
the only producing theatre in the City of London, has been at
the forefront in developing and encouraging innovative musical
theatre.
The musical theatre industry attracts little
by way of public funding and investment and yet is a major contributor
to foreign earnings through tourism and exports. It is also a
vital feature in the programming and income for provincial theatres
such as The Theatre Royal in Brighton. Musical theatre is popular,
accessible theatre and is a genre that is the financial mainstay
for many venues.
The Bridewell is unique and I think should be
considered an important, creative, national resource.
Steve Bell (political cartoonist for The
Guardian) and I are currently experiencing the value of the
Bridewell to writers who are new to musical theatre. Carol Metcalf,
Artistic Director, has provided advice, encouragement and free,
practical assistance in bringing our musical comedy "Great
Scott ..!" to a point where we expect to showcase the piece
for potential producers at the Bridewell in January 2004. As far
as I am aware there is no other organisation who would have given
their support to a project as unusual as ours and I am sure that
without the help of the Bridewell we would not have progressed
so far.
I hope that the Committee will act to ensure
funding is made available for the Bridewell Theatre to continue
their valuable work.
17 November 2003
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