National Theatre Wales Concludes Operations After Funding Loss

National Theatre Wales has concluded its operations. The organization announced it has “ceased to exist” following the complete withdrawal of its Arts Council Wales (ACW) funding in 2023. Naomi Chiffi, head of collaboration at the struggling company, described the situation as “devastating,” noting it followed a year of challenging self-reflection. The company is now set to transform into TEAM (Theatre, Education Arts, Music), which will concentrate on the grassroots initiatives it has consistently pursued within the community and education sectors. “I think we stopped listening,” Ms Chiffi stated. She added, “It’s been a very difficult few months to try and get our heads around, but it’s really forced us to look at what we do well and what’s most important to people.” Ms Chiffi further commented, “I think what we have come to realise now is that it’s maybe time to let the productions happen elsewhere with other people, and hone in on what we’re really good at.” In September 2023, the company was informed of the loss of its £1.6m in core funding from ACW during its investment review. Ms Chiffi acknowledged that the company had made “a lot of things wrong,” but identified the core issue as having “stopped listening properly” to individuals within the arts sector and the general public. “What was really successful about the infancy of the organisation was that through models like TEAM, it was really listening to communities, listening to artists, listening to audiences and making work in accordance to that,” she explained. “And I think when we stopped listening to the people that we really needed to listen to, and engaging in the way that we could have, we started to make work that maybe wasn’t quite as impactful as it had been in the past.” She emphasized, “I think it all boils down to: are we listening and are we actually responding to what Wales wants and needs.” Ms Chiffi also highlighted that “A scheme like TEAM democratises the arts, brings it to people who don’t think the arts is for them and uncovers new talent which is really exciting.” Abena-Mintaah Mensah, a singer-songwriter and young persons’ co-ordinator at TEAM, remarked, “To inspire young people to be artistic and be creative is so important.” Her comments were made at a TEAM event in Cardiff, which marked the completion of a project involving pupils from ACT, a school catering to students outside mainstream education. Tobias Weatherburn, a professional actor scheduled to lead a TEAM project in Cardiff schools in January, expressed disappointment regarding the cessation of National Theatre Wales but was grateful that its grassroots efforts would persist. He stated, “I grew up with National Theatre Wales so it is sad, but I’m happy that TEAM will continue.” National Theatre Wales was founded in 2009 and had continuously received Arts Council Wales funding since its inception. Notable early achievements include the pioneering Passion play in Port Talbot, featuring Michael Sheen in 2011, which spanned three days and drew 25,000 spectators. In a letter sent to ACW last October, the company cautioned that it would cease operations without its funding, stating at the time: “If lost, it will not be easily or affordably replaced.” Dafydd Rhys, ACW chief executive, indicated that since the “difficult decision” was made concerning funding, ACW had collaborated with the theatre “in terms of supporting them to reimagine and restructure to a model which is not reliant on core funding on a multi-year basis.” Mr Rhys mentioned that the theatre received transition funding to explore new operational approaches, for instance. He affirmed, “We look forward to continuing our regular dialogue with National Theatre Wales as they move into this new phase in their development.” He also added, “We have also commissioned a review into English language theatre in Wales, which will be published in the spring.”