I have been incredibly lucky as both an MP, and formerly a councillor, to have represented somewhere with really brilliant community theatres. NK Theatre Arts, who are based at the Forum Theatre in Romiley, are an incredible group who have given so many people the opportunity to thrive and find their way either in performance or backstage.
And there is so much more across this wonderful constituency. The Forum Theatre itself plays host to a wide range of community groups, and is a real glue holding the village together. Nearby is Romiley Little Theatre, and the Carver Theatre in Marple.
But, like hundreds of other community theatres and arts spaces across the UK, they need more support from the Government to help them to continue to thrive for a new generation.
In the case of the Forum Theatre, it has been under severe threat because of RAAC (reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete) in the roof. A concerted community campaign was supported by Stockport Council, which was able to deliver £300,000 of funding to get the theatre open again in the short term, but right now, those repairs have only given it a five-year lifespan.
This is typical of so many other community venues across the country. Five theatres were added to the Theatres Trust “At Risk Register” this year, and three of those were directly at risk because of the presence of RAAC.
I always feel that we as a society tend to look at the arts as a cost rather than as an asset and as a way of actually reducing costs in other areas.
The theatre brings together children and young people from different backgrounds, from those who are more affluent to those who are currently living in the care of the local authority and, at the theatre, they grow together with shared passions.
I remember growing up with my accent, and really welcoming it when somebody sounded like me on the BBC or somebody sounded like me in a theatre production. And I think it matters to all of us that we can see ourselves, we can hear ourselves, and we can hear our stories being told. I think community theatre plays a hugely important role in that, and local theatre plays a hugely important role in that too.
It also plays a really important role, I think, in saving the public purse money. We’ve got so many young people waiting for an assessment or for treatment for their mental health. They’re on a CAMHS – Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services – waiting list. They might be out of mainstream school. They might be struggling, as they’re living with some sort of mental health condition and participating in the life of a theatre, whether it’s in a production, front of house or back of house can really make people feel like they belong. It can help them find their voice, and it can really support them, thereby reducing the cost to the state in other areas.
I think it also offers invaluable education opportunities. At the Forum, local schools benefit from theatre experience days where students can learn about career opportunities in the creative industries. And this can be life changing. One example is David, who discovered his passion for lighting and sound design during a school visit, and when he left school, he became NK’s very first apprentice, allowing him to master his passion over a two year programme.
I spoke to NK Theatre Arts, and they summarised my point perfectly. They said, “Although it’s great to put on a brilliant show, it isn’t really about the shows and the events. It’s all about the social benefits this brings to the children, young people and adults. All of our partners who use the Forum Theatre, but it needs investment and this investment would be its lifeline. “
So I want to ensure that the Government take action to support councils to maintain and renovate cultural buildings such as community theatres. The Department of Education largely provided schools and colleges with the funding that they needed to remove RAAC. I’d like to see something similar for our cultural venues.
Considering the hugely important service that our cultural buildings provide and the amount they save the broader public purse, I think it just makes sense for the government to provide similar funding to remove RAAC from community theatres across the UK.
Without our community theatres, the immensely valuable services that organisations like NK Theatre Arts provide to young people would not be able to exist. Any funding for community theatre would be investing in our young people, in our local communities, and in the UK’s proud and storied cultural heritage.
Local theatres and arts spaces are vital community assets and deserve our support
