Theatre.

I know I haven't blogged for a (very long) while, but now I finally have something to say.

You've probably heard about the cuts the government are imposing on the arts? If you're friends with me in the real world you almost certainly have.

Alexander Wright, of Belt Up Theatre, sums it up far more neatly than me.

There has been a lot of discussion about the arts cuts recently, particularly at the Olivier Awards coverage on the BBC, where the point was made that without regional theatres, the blessed London Theatreland cannot continue to be "world leading".

And I agree.

Regional theatres are heavily subsidised by both local and national government, and will therefore be suffering cuts from both sides. The problem is that regional theatres are also the places where the risks are taken. Regional theatres are the places that run outreach programmes. Regional theatres are the places that pull new audiences into the theatre. Perhaps most importantly, regional theatres are the places that take risks, on new companies like Belt Up, that allow these companies to experiment, to take the risks neccessary to make their own way in the big bad world of theatre.

I didn't exactly grow up in a regional theatre, but it was where I had my first experiences of both performing and working backstage at a professional theatre. These places are valuable.

The cuts aren't going to stop theatremakers. I will still work in the theatre. My mind was made up on this when I was 5 years old, and no bloody government is going to stop me. But they can make my life, and the lives of my contempories very difficult.