Michele George - Voice Specialist, Singer, Actor, Canada

“a vital and prestigious player in the arts in Wales, whose history, experience, and present interests are important to mobilise into the challenges of new resources for drama theatre and performance, centring now in Wales on the development of a non-building based national theatre."

Now, if I were to read such a profound acknowledgment of an organization, and then look to see who wrote it, only to discover it was from the government funding body which helps so essentially to keep this organization afloat, I'd smile and be grateful that at least somewhere in this backwards world which does not remember the utter necessity of the arts in a crumbling society, at least in Wales there is an understanding of priorities.
But this is not the case, is it?

I have been associated with CPR for well over a decade, and I can honestly say, as an international theatre maker for thirty-five years, that my association with you all has been and remains one of the highlights of my creative life. Each time I have gone to work with you, I have come away with a deeper understanding of why theatre is necessary for past and future to meet in the present.

To bring artists from literally all over the world, and artists of profound quality and diversity, together, both to pass on their knowledge to those who come as students, and also to allow those professionals who are teaching and performing to have the rare opportunity to spend time together to share the work, to share the sources and the reasons why we all continue to do this work in spite of the financial difficulties which become ever more drastic, this is a rare gift.

And now your own country has joined the ranks of the unenlightened.
Such sorrow on the one hand, and such anger on the other.....I fear that if I clap these two hands together, holding such bleak emotions, there will be a dull thunder of despair.

Please pass this letter on to those who would break something so valuable, and let us hope and pray that the support of those who know will have a genuine
voice which will truly be heard.

I worked with the extraordinary theatre director, Peter Brook, as an actor, for ten years, and we travelled all over the world, seeking how to heal the suffering that was infecting theatre and all the performing arts. What an extraordinary decade that was in my life, and what a privilege! And here you are, having reversed that process, you are bringing the world of the performing arts to Wales! You are true pioneers who work with a passion and an intelligence which is indeed rare.

Whoever needs to hear this in the Arts Council of Wales, I beg you to listen:

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LIFE OF THE
CENTRE FOR PERFORMANCE RESEARCH
BY CONTINUING TO FUND THEIR ESSENTIAL WORK.

Thank you, and bless you all at CPR, may you go on and on.
And you know what? I know that you will.

With love and gratitude,

looking forward to seeing you all at Giving Voice,


Michele George

Voice Specialist, Singer, Actor - Canada