National Theatre Wales ‘ceases to exist’ as company adopts new model after grant cut

National Theatre Wales (NTW) will no longer exist in its current form following the loss of its core funding from Arts Council Wales (ACW) in 2023, the organisation has said.

Speaking to the BBC, NTW’s head of collaboration Naomi Chiffi said the company has “ceased to exist” and will now focus on its existing grassroots community and education work, known as TEAM (Theatre, Engagement, Music, Arts).

“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,” said Chiffi.

‘Dismantling English-language theatre’

Founded in 2009 and supported by ACW until last year, NTW was one of 81 creative organisations dropped from the funder’s latest portfolio, losing all its £1.6m annual investment.

Following the decision, NTW warned of closure within six months if funding was not reinstated. It wrote an open letter to ACW outlining its intention to appeal the decision and calling for “urgent conversations” before the appeal concluded.

In the letter, NTW challenged the “decision to dismantle Wales’s English-language national theatre” before a review commissioned by the funder had taken place.

NTW has previously faced criticism for performing in English. The Welsh language forms one of the six principles applicants must respond to in their grant submissions to ACW.

‘We stopped listening’

Describing the changes to the company’s operations as “devastating”, Chiffi said that NTW, which had its appeal against ACW’s decision unanimously rejected this time last year, had got “a lot of things wrong”.

“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,” she said.

“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.

“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.”

“I think it all boils down to: are we listening and are we actually responding to what Wales wants and needs.

“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.”

Not reliant on multi-year core funding

ACW chief executive Dafydd Rhys said that cutting NTW’s grant had been a “difficult decision” and that the funder has since worked with the company “in terms of supporting them to reimagine and restructure to a model which is not reliant on core funding on a multi-year basis”.

“We look forward to continuing our regular dialogue with National Theatre Wales as they move into this new phase in their development,” said Rhys.

“We have also commissioned a review into English language theatre in Wales, which will be published in the spring.”

‘A bold and exciting decision’

In a statement, NTW confirmed that the company “as we once knew it” will “cease to exist” and will now “evolve” into TEAM, focussing exclusively on creative community engagement.

The company said: “TEAM has been a significant success story of NTW’s journey, and it is vital that the legacy of this decade-long project, including the unique expertise of its staff, is not lost.

“It is therefore a bold and exciting decision on the board’s part to evolve NTW into TEAM, focusing exclusively on its sector-leading work in delivering grassroots audience, artist engagement and development, and community co-created work with those traditionally excluded from arts participation.

“These changes have been discussed with Arts Council Wales, we’ve consulted experts in our space and we are now seeking to roll out TEAM’s work across Wales, encompassing multiple art-forms.

“TEAM’s future plans see us working with other arts organisations and partners across Wales to reach more communities across the country than ever before.

“Theatre remains integral to the arts infrastructure of Wales and many new avenues are being explored to ensure a future for English language theatre in Wales. We remain hopeful for a future in which we see world-class work that represents and serves the people of Wales, while providing opportunities for talent to work in the sector, both on and off stage.”