Kaite O’Reilly - Playwright, Dramaturg, Tutor, Wales

Dear Judie and Richard,

When I was offered a teaching job at the University of Glamorgan in 1992, one reason why I decided to relocate to Wales was because of my knowledge of Centre for Performance Research. I had participated in a CPR workshop in Cardiff some time before this and felt confident that the move to Wales would be
a rich and positive experience: Owing to CPR, there would be an active, culturally diverse artistic community I could be part of and many opportunities, through CPR activities, to strengthen my experience and skills as a theatre practitioner. The existence of CPR made my relocation to Wales more attractive and tenable. Sixteen years later, it is also part of the reason why I am still here.

CPR is remarkable, pioneering and visionary, creating decades ago what many other organisations and institutions are trying – often poorly - to replicate, now. Before any other organisation realised the importance of performance research, CPR was a master in it, bringing the best of the World to Wales, and establishing Wales as the site of ground-breaking, innovative practice – a place to learn, to grow, to share – and with a generosity of purpose, with such welcome and attention to detail, that CPR and by extension, Wales, have become synonymous with excellence. Without a doubt, CPR has been an international ambassador for Wales.

The organisation has also been a powerhouse, nurturing generations of established and emerging practitioners and academics. When I was a University lecturer, my peers and students attended many performances, workshops and symposia, and I know that this had a remarkable and long-lasting impact. When I consider the Welsh and Wales-based practitioners of note, the majority have benefited from CPR’s activities – as workshop leaders, participants, mentees of World class practitioners, as audience members at astonishing performances. CPR has opened the World to audiences and practitioners alike, expanding our experience of performance, our understanding of the voice, our definition of what theatre can be. CPR has also opened Wales to the World, with its masterclasses and collaborations between Wales-based practitioners and internationally renowned practitioners. Several times when I have been at conferences abroad, colleagues have not been able to locate where I live in the UK – a case of ‘Wales, England’ – until we discuss CPR. Recognition then strikes: ‘CPR, Aberystwyth.’ Internationally, you have helped put Wales on the map.

Owing to these strong experiences and opinions regarding CPR, its standing in the world and the many debts practitioners and audiences of Wales owes to the organisation, I am shocked and outraged by ACW’s recent announcements on funding. I fear the short-sightedness of the Arts Council’s vision will threaten not only a national treasure, but practice itself within Wales. I am also concerned about what message these funding decisions send to artists within Wales, but also internationally. If a much loved organisation with a national reputation and World class standing can be threatened by the funding bodies, how does that reflect on ACW and Wales itself? What kind of foolish, disastrous strategy is being proposed? What values and standards are at work?

As a former board member of CPR, I well understand how the proposed new funding structures would be impossible for the organisation to survive and continue. CPR requires continuous, core funding in order to function, as time is required to identify and create each new pioneering project and ensure excellence. At a time when performance research is recognised as essential and immensely valuable, it is surely myopic, indeed disastrous, to threaten the funding of the foremost Centre for Performance Research – the front runner, the original and still the best.

I have grave concerns about the arts in Wales, the decision-making of ACW and future Welsh performance practice if this proposed funding decision goes through. It strikes at the heart of all that is innovative, inclusive and culturally diverse in our small nation.

Please share this letter with the Arts Council of Wales or any other if you feel my thoughts may encourage a reconsideration of the funding proposal.

As ever,
A grateful participant of CPR’s innovation and vision,

Kaite O’Reilly,
Playwright, Dramaturg, Tutor
Ceredigion, Wales