Madam, - Louise Donlon of Portlaoise's Dunamaise Arts Centre (August 28th) bemoans the fact that, due to the lack of touring currently undertaken by Irish theatre companies, her audiences would need to fly to Edinburgh to see Rough Magic's production of Improbable Frequency. In your editorial of the same date you echo her call to make successful Irish theatre productions "available to a wider audience in the country of [ their] origin" before they are funded to tour internationally.
Over 16,000 Irish taxpayers have already seen Improbable Frequency during its two Dublin runs. Nevertheless, Rough Magic welcomes the call for the immediate reintroduction of funding for theatre touring within Ireland. The Arts Council's long- awaited statement on their proposed new model for touring funding is now anticipated "in the autumn".
Direct funding structures that provide ear-marked support for proven productions is the only workable solution to the problem that Louise Donlon rightly identified.
These funding options must also be supported by the necessary investment in marketing and audience development at the new venues that have been constructed around the country with Government and EU support.
The Arts Council abandoned direct touring support following the comprehensive Theatre Review undertaken in 1995. They did so in the belief that by redirecting touring funding to the companies and venues as part of their annual revenue grants, market forces and shrewd negotiation would lead to increased touring. As Louise Donlon illustrated so starkly, that policy has failed audiences, companies, and venues. It is time for a radical rethink.
The economics of touring theatre in our booming economy should not be underestimated. Ironically, several of the shows listed in your reports are large-scale productions with high running costs. It is simply a fact that subsidy is necessary to recoup the significant touring expenses that cannot be recovered at the box office.
We believe, however, that funding for national touring should not be at the expense of the promotion of Irish artists abroad. The creation of Culture Ireland is arguably the most significant development in the State's support of its artists since the formation of Aosdána in 1981. The opportunities it presents cannot be held hostage to inadequate supports elsewhere.
Rough Magic is currently in discussion with a number of Irish venues with a view to touring not only Improbable Frequency but also our recent successful production of The Taming of the Shrew. Neither tour will be possible without State subsidy. Theatre enthusiasts in every corner of the country should pay close attention to the content of the Arts Council's forthcoming announcement.
And in the meantime we look forward proudly to touring our best work to audiences throughout the world with the invaluable support of Culture Ireland. - Yours, etc,
LOUGHLIN DEEGAN, Producer, Rough Magic Theatre Company, South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2.
Madam, - In relation to a letter today (August 29th) and an article (August 28th) entitled: "Book your flights for best of Irish", I wish to point out that in a press release issued on July 19th, the Arts Council outlined details of funding opportunities for arts organisations in the coming months. Reference was made in that release (available on www.artscouncil.ie) to the fact that details of the council's new touring programme for arts organisations will be announced in the autumn.
The Arts Council welcomes the NASC touring project initiated by seven Arts Council-funded venues. The Arts Council was pleased to support the NASC project by committing additional funding of €112,000 this year. - Yours, etc,
MICHELLE HOCTOR, Press and Communications Officer, Arts Council 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.