It would be easy to over exaggerate and suggest that there is not a year goes by without yet another creative tragedy as this project, that venue or this company have folded due to THE CUTS. I have performed and directed in venues that are closed from the Civic Theatre in Ayr to the Ramshorn in Glasgow to G12 in Gilmorehill.
Times move and things move on alongside them apparently…
In Scotland we have mourned Wildcat, whence is 7:84 and by a thin hair we still have Borderline. Scottish Youth Theatre nearly closed, the Byre nearly folded and Fire Exit is no more…
It’s not been a good decade or century, even fin de siècle for some of Scotland’s brightest and best.
But surely all good things and all that…
We should realise that the writing is on the wall and leave the stage with a decent panoply of cliché and them wanting more – should we not?
Rather than being fine examples of a fire ready for a Phoenix, they each represent a notch on the belt of desperation in the context of an austere look at the arts in Scotland.
Whilst the powers that dole out the dosh are engaged in a desperate attempt to save money by removing subsidy from a sector that manages to be creative on a pittance, that sector surprises and delights but survives and only just.
To those closed above I am adding Junction 25. Lack of funding has closed the door on a company, based in Glasgow’s Tramway that has won awards, represents an acting troupe of 11 to 25 year olds and has won a number of awards, never stood still and is the embodiment of changing shape to keep current, and is now going to hang up its awards and just keep the memories.
In 2011 it was touted as one of our best in the curated Made in Scotland programme – it won a Herald Angel award. It was even highlighted as one of the top 100 List’s Hot 100 of Scottish creative Talent once. They have been abroad to perform, won a CATS award a Fringe First and were nominated for a Total Theatre Award for Innovation.
But the award they have not got is for the funding needed to keep going.
It leaves a load of kids without that positive influence in an area where it would so some good – tick – social value.
It has proven itself as a creative force – tick – artistic value.
Has it managed to achieve the safeguards financially and managerially to get the other boxes ticked? Is there a means through which support can be put in place to help with that? Seemingly not. The result – lose em.
Dear God as thousands of people are being airlifted home from holidays and the parliament building is getting a facelift we are now sitting with yet another artistic company paying the penalty of feeling and being seen as unworthy.
It’s no longer shame, way past a disgrace and likely to continue until we have our own extension rebellion…
