The panel for the first in a series of debates presented by the Guardian and Battersea Arts Centre has been announced. The debate, part of the joint project A Nation’s Theatre, will explore issues of devolution and its impact on the arts. It will take place at Manchester’s new cultural space, Home, on Saturday 23 May from 5.15-6.15pm.
Guardian critic Lyn Gardner and BAC’s David Jubb will be joined by Walter Meierjohann, artistic director: theatre at Home; Matt Fenton, artistic director at Contact theatre; Gemma Bodinetz, artistic director of the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; Blanche McIntyre, associate director at Nuffield theatre and director of Home’s production of The Oresteia; Alison Clark-Jenkins, director of combined arts and director, north, at Arts Council England; and the poet, playwright and actor Yusra Warsama.
As Manchester looks ahead to the prospect of devolution, and Wales and Scotland are assured of ever-greater autonomy, we will be asking what effect these changes might have on theatre and the arts in the UK. Can a country that is increasingly regionally divided still be brought together by art? Will greater autonomy lead to a greater disparity of funding in the arts? And how do we ensure that the benefits of investment in the arts are felt by everyone?
A Nation’s Theatre is a year-long celebration of theatre and creativity, presented by BAC in partnership with the Guardian.
