Welsh Journals

Towards a Welsh Theatre By Lord HOWARD DE WALDEN THERE seems to be some demand for a National Theatre in Wales. I wonder why ? There are many things which are right and reasonable for the Welsh to demand but I do not think a National Theatre is amongst the more immediate issues. Is it possible that the clamour in a neighbouring country has affected them ? In England there is a natural feeling of resentment against the more flagrant excesses of the commercial theatre and that has led to a demand for an institution where the standard classics can be performed continuously and not left to the caprices of theatrical enterprise. But this does not apply to Wales at all except in the larger industrial cities, and there the remedy is in their own hands. And if opinion in England, a country with a dramatic tradition of four hundred years, is more than doubtful about the necessity for any such institution, Wales may well leave the matter to rest for a century or so. For the Drama in Wales began about forty years ago, if we leave Twm o'r Nant and other early but sporadic developments out of account. It began with the great amateur movement that broke out all over the islands a good many years since. It took its place comfortably enough beside the similar movements in England and Scotland, although it was severely hampered by the lack of tradition, experience and any form of model. England and Scotland were not so hampered. They had the better part of the commercial theatre, some excellent repertory companies and certain institutions devoted to the more severe and cultural side of the theatre, especially England. And from these they can continually learn and receive ideas. The problem in Wales (if we must have problems and one of our latter day philosophers has pointed out that we see nothing which is not presented as a problem), the problem is whether Wales is to have a theatre at all. I do not mean a play house but a theatre in the sense of a living dramatic art. If the drama in Wales remains in its present stage dependent upon such performances as amateur societies can find the time to organise, it will suffer from all the bitter handicaps I have mentioned and little develop- ment will be possible. I do not wish to put any reproach upon the dramatic societies in Wales. Much that they do is admirable. But they require help especially upon the severely technical side. We may dislike the commercial theatre for the way in which it exploits its audiences but it has at least great technical ability and experience though