<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><STRONG>Dear
Colleagues,</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Owing to the decision of the
Scottish Arts Council to cut <EM>all</EM> of the funding for the 7:84 Theatre
Company, the company is now facing closure as of August 2006. 7:84, now 33 years
old, is one of the most important theatres of its kind, and is still driven by
the ideal of social change conceptualised, organised, and acted on by one of its
chief founders, the late John McGrath and his wife, Elizabeth McLennan. Their
1973 production of <EM>The Cheviot, the Stag, and the Black Black Oil</EM> is
one of the most influential and long running pieces of popular theatre ever
produced in Scotland, and perhaps in the U.K. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>The work of the company has been
documented and analysed, as you know, by Maria DiCenzo of Wilfrid Laurier
University, in her important book, <EM>The Politics of Alternative Theatre in
Britain, 1968-1990: The Case of 7:84 </EM>(Cambridge UP,
1996).</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Following is a statement of concern
from Ruth Ogston, General Manager of 7:84. She asks us to sign the online
petition (the weblink is provided) which will be sent to the Scottish Art
Council and to First Minister Jack McConnell and Culture Minister Patricia
Ferguson. Teesri Duniya theatre has signed the petition, as have members of its
board, and many of its supporters throughout Canada. The aims of both
Teesri and 7:84 are radically similar, as evidenced by Teesri's motto, "Change
the world, one play at a time." I gather 7:84 is very much appreciating the
support it is receiving not only in Scotland and the U.K. but from around the
world.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>I note that the words, "7% of the
population of this country owns 84% of the wealth" appear at the bottom of
Ruth Ogston's message. I wonder if that ratio still applies, or if an even
smaller percentage of the population owns an even larger percentage of the
wealth since 7:84 was founded. I wonder what the figure is throughout the
U.K., here at home, and indeed throughout the world, assuming reliable data are
available. The vision that informed the foundation of 7:84 remains as urgent as
ever, if indeed not more so.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>--Denis
Salter.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>********</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></STRONG>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000>7:84 's funding cut by the Scottish Arts Council<BR><BR>The
Scottish Arts Council confirmed on Wed 1st March they are cutting<BR>all funding
for 7:84 Theatre Company. <BR><BR>33 years old and after having
produced dozens of plays and employing<BR>hundreds of Scottish actors, 7:84 is
now facing closure in August 2006.<BR>The current play Free-Fall looks as if it
will be the last touring<BR>production by Scotland's only political theatre
company. <BR><BR>Post August 2006, the company will be eligible to apply for
projects<BR>funds in 2007/8 although we have been told that there are no
guarantees<BR>for funding at all. Without funding from the Arts Council
(which makes<BR>up approximately 60% of the company's income), there is no money
to pay<BR>staff which will mean no more tours or none of the massive
Outreach &<BR>Community action work: work that is unique in Scotland.
<STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>[The range, depth, and
aspirations</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>of their Outreach &
Community action work are extraordinary. The work
is</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>outlined on the company's
website at <A href="http://www.784theatre.com">http://www.784theatre.com</A>
]</FONT></STRONG><BR><BR>The rationale behind the decision is the Arts Council's
new priority of<BR>supporting the artist. 7:84 is seen as too audience
focused. We find<BR>this decision ludicrous and shortsighted and
we're shocked that<BR>audiences are being ignored. The team are in shock
and so deeply sad<BR>and angry that the company's work over 33 years has been
wiped out under<BR>a new criteria that ignores audiences. We will be appealing
this<BR>decision and we desperately need your support to help form our appeal.
<BR><BR>We would like to ask you to join a campaign currently on our
website<BR></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000><A
href="http://www.784theatre.com/index.cfm/page/11/">http://www.784theatre.com/index.cfm/page/11/</A><BR><BR>Expressions
of support will be forwarded to the Scottish Arts Council<BR>and to both First
Minister Jack McConnell and Culture Minister Patricia<BR>Ferguson as we urge
them to intervene in this gross decision. <BR><BR>Thank you so much for support
given to the company in the past and<BR>thanking you in advance for future
support. <BR><BR>Ruth <BR><BR>Ruth Ogston, General Manager <BR><BR>7:84 Theatre
Company (Scotland) Ltd.<BR>333 Woodlands Road<BR>Glasgow<BR>G3 6NG<BR><BR>0141
334 6686 (phone)<BR>0141 334 3369 (fax)<BR><BR></FONT><A href=""><FONT
face="Times New Roman">www.784theatre.com</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000> <BR>7% of the population of this country owns 84% of the
wealth</FONT><BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>__________________________________________________________<BR>"When
a people forget a language, they forfeit the heart of who they <BR>are and
the ability to comprehend the stories that are central to their <BR>cultural,
spiritual and emotional health."--Keren
Rice.<BR>____________________________________________________________________<BR>"That's
what hybrids were invented for: survival in changing ecologies."--Lisa Doolittle
<BR>_______________________________________________________________________<BR>"To
celebrate this award, and the work it recognizes of those around the world, let
me recall the words of Gandhi: 'My life is my message.' Also, plant a
tree." Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize for
Peace.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>__________________________________________________<BR>Denis
Salter<BR>Professor of Theatre<BR>McGill University<BR>853 Sherbrooke St.
West<BR>Montréal, QC<BR>H3A 2T6<BR>Tel (514) 398 6550<BR>Regular Fax (514) 398
8146<BR>Computer Fax (309) 294 0444<BR><A
href="mailto:denis.salter@mcgill.ca">denis.salter@mcgill.ca</A><BR><A
href="mailto:d.salter@videotron.ca">d.salter@videotron.ca</A><BR>__________________</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>