Yes and No

[Guest guest]

Diane, my puny evidence comes mainly two weeks ago from another ex-civil servant recently involved in the Cultural Olympiad

(but to a lesser extent from the Big Lottery Board, the ODA, a former member of the Council now working for the South Bank Centre and two former theatre Directors). The showcasing of London's West End is still on the political agenda: (D. Cameron 12 August 2010) He says he wants to ensure that "London 2012 provides the best economic and tourism legacy that any Olympic host city has ever done and that sets us on a path to break into the top five tourist destinations in the world." I attach a recent picture of the Prime Minister taking advantage of a BBC photo opportunity with cast members of the Sound of Music.

You missed out my words 'in the same way as National Media' - most elected officials are hungry for coverage, and you and I remember how Harold first began courting celebrities in the 1960s. Even hardened ministers did not want to appear foolish on camera with Joanna Lumley last year (were you at that SAPHNA meeting where I talked about the Ghurkhas as a model for school nurses?). Tony Blair's Comic Relief sketch with Tate in Downing Street (2007) follows right in the tradition of welcoming the Beatles, on camera.

I cannot think of any elected politician in my time who expressed similar passion for Am Dram, but I could be wrong. I have to give Ed Balls his due (see second attached picture, from his Morley campaign website just before the May election): the Secretary of State for children schools and families was fighting a very marginal marginal, and I observed him for 2 hours at a local children's art competition, which had far more cameramen/sound crews invited than it had local children. He narrowly won that seat.

Personally, I hope grassroots theatre (especially involving young people) survives and thrives... it is a wonderful part of British culture.

Woody.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Diane DeBellSent: 19 August 2010 18:11 Subject: Re: FW: UNICEF - Kenya - Kenyan TV drama, 'Shuga', entertains as it raises AIDS awareness

That isn't quite true, Woody. Regional Arts Councils under Labour funded "grassroots theatre" groups across the whole of the country. The question at the moment is whether or not the coalition government will remove the 14 Regional Arts Councils (probably) and if that happens, will there be protected funds from a central government source (Arts Council England)? And, of course, there is a serious question about whether or not Arts Council England will itself be removed. There is a consultation document out now and the autumn is likely to see decisions about arts funding processes.

I find it difficult to imagine that 14 regional ACs will survive when the SHAs, the very powerful regional development agencies plus the Audit Commission, and of course multiple, multiple such bodies have already been announced for closure.

But it is not the case that we can simply say that "grassroots theatre never appeals to politicians. . . in this country". We need to be very careful about the evidence for sweeping statements.

Diane

RE: FW: UNICEF - Kenya - Kenyan TV drama, 'Shuga', entertains as it raises AIDS awareness

I agree, Malcolm: peer education of schoolchildren through drama also has a good track record, but nurturing grassroots theatre never appeals to politicians in the same way as National Media..... in this country, even before the current Coalition cut-backs, community theatre in general was dying to pay for e.g. grandiose Olympic developments. Woody.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Rigler Malcolm (Swindon PCT)Sent: 19 August 2010 15:27 Subject: FW: UNICEF - Kenya - Kenyan TV drama, 'Shuga', entertains as it raises AIDS awareness

Hi,

I'm often awake at 3am or 4am and listen to "The Strand" on the WOrld Service. TOday "Shuga" was featured and the outstanding results this "soap" is having on Aids awareness.

This should give us all food for thought.

I'm thinking - the slavery issue , the child abuse issue, all the issues related to

poverty, unemployment and poor education could be presented in the way "Shuga" both entertains and raises awareness .

We need a "Department of Theatrical Preventative Medicine" I rekon. "Shuga" is showing the way - their work has credible academic research findings.

Malcolm Rigler.

UNICEF - Kenya - Kenyan TV drama, 'Shuga', entertains as it raises AIDS awareness

UNICEF - Kenya - Kenyan TV drama, 'Shuga', entertains as it raises AIDS awareness

http://www.unicef.org/emailarticle/infobycountry/kenya_52616.rhtml

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