Peter Morgan Barnes,Wales

Dear Judie, Richard, and all at CPR,

It is with great dismay that I hear of ACW's intended withdrawal of revenue funding from the CPR.

Until recently I have been based in Ireland where I have worked as an opera director and librettist. I have also run a conflict resolution programme in the North. I am Welsh and during my years in Ireland I have kept my hand in and worked in Wales periodically. As part of this I have given occasional workshops for the CPR and attended many of the CPR's events.

Because of the CPR I have seen Zimbabwean dancers and Iranian politico-religious theatre in Aberystwyth. I have been able to introduce Irish legends, and a little of the language, to Welsh speaking school children. I have even been able to explore the consequences of modern Shakespeare scholarship for performers.

Beyond this, I have been able to use the valuable collection of performance material to find recordings of performance which would otherwise be completely lost. To give an example:Towards the end of Northern Ireland's conflict society was changing extremely rapidly as the peace process unfolded and stumbled. What it was possible to say on stage in the 1990's was still restricted by the fear of reprisal. Enormous self censorship existed amongst theatre managers and commissioners of work. The comedy duo Ridiculismus very memorably broke several taboos with their piece 'Say Nothing'. It was a seminal moment in Irish stage history. Recently I was taking a course with performing arts students on how the conflict has been represented in theatre and cinema. Yet there is no copy of this production in any Irish archive; the only recording of this performance is held by the CPR. Myself and my colleagues have been able to use the CPR collection in the creation of new Irish opera. Specifically 'How the Peace and Reconciliation Money is Spent' and 'The Impostor' (a reworking of Moliere's Tartuffe). So Castleward Opera, the Opera Fringe Festival and Live Music Now Ireland have all benefited from the CPR collection at one remove. I do not know of any other organisation in Britain or Ireland which would provide such opportunities.

CPR's role is vital in ensuring that Wales has access to international performing arts and is able to interact with the wider performing world. It's role is international and its reputation is international, to cut its funding is to represent Wales as an introspective and provincial society. As a Welshman this angers me.

With all support and best wishes,

Peter Morgan Barnes