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ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE closure of Waterford’s Red Kettle Theatre Company have been initiated.
The company was founded in 1985 but is now facing the final curtain, due to arts funding cuts and “six years of economic erosion”.
Red Kettle played a leading role in city’s vibrant arts scene.
However, in a statement issued last night, the company said it is “no longer a viable enterprise”, despite the efforts of many including the local Council and Youth Committee.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of the Red Kettle Theatre Company, a company much loved by the people of its native Waterford for nearly 30 years,” it read.
Red Kettle joins a growing list of arts organisations nationally which have been put out of business in recent years through ongoing economic challenges and cuts to their funding.
The statement noted that there will be ‘several’ job losses.
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That’s a real shame. Ireland’s people still need art and culture ….even more so in times when we are going through a crisis. Shame on our government who waste funds in other areas when they could be put to better use.
They might still need art and culture but they don’t seem to want it or are not prepared to pay realistic prices for it, which is why theatre groups such as this are not commercially viable.
Yep, quoting Dead Poets
“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for”
I do feel however that there is too much of a reliance on Arts funding allowing artists to produce poorly scripted nonsense that few want to see. I would liken it to the English funding of modern-classical music where composers produce. untalented, unmusical drivel. I remember one where a computer was allow to select notes at random to produce a symphony…..truly awful and arts council funded.
An absolute disgrace that this has been allowed to happen. Red Kettle have been working on a shoestring budget for years. Arts Council hang your heads in shame.
Sadly small theatres cannot be a priority in this time of austerity.
I spent 6 hours on a hospital trolley last week – in a public corridor.
Very sorry to hear that and you are dead right.
I hardly think you can directly or indirectly place your sad plight of a trolley at that door of the arts
He just has Barry.
And I agree.
Go to a play or get a hospital bed?
There are a plethora of things which require funding and arts is not on list. It’s should be fully privately funded. RTE is another one that has always been publicly funded to such a degree that they can send dozens of their staff to so many places around the world at the same time that it is scandalous.
Half of them should be sacked.
WTF does RTE have to do with the red kettle? This is a local amateur drama society that let’s kids and adults participate in the arts on evening and weekends it’s a form of connection between people. It might not mean much to you and I but I’m sure it helps people get up and gives them something to do. We pay enough money in our taxes that go to shit organisations and the Red Kettle in my opinion is a good one, it’s important that money goes to the arts were a country famed for our literature greats. This is were they will get there love for it as a child. I’d rather have a place like this for my child to go than playing on the streets in the evening.
I do agree RTE are overpaid idiots but that’s completely different subject.
ironically, arts funding in other counties such as limerick, Galway & Kilkenny has been double what Waterford has received in recent years. for gods sake think hard before letting red kettle die – this theatre company is small but magnificent in it’s endeavour, it is akin to druid in Galway in it’s fine productions, it visits our local schools filling the children with wonder and awe encouraging the arts at a young age. please send them funds to keep that red door open and put them in the black.
That’s a real shame. Ireland’s people still need art and culture ….even more so in times when we are going through a crisis. Shame on our government who waste funds in other areas when they could be put to better use.
When I was in primary school, they used to always have plays on in our school. Everyone loved them. Such a shame. I’ve fond memories of Red Kettle.
Society being eroded by austerity one step at a time
Very sad to hear this news. I have very fond memories of working with Ben and his team and of the professionalism they approached their work with and the positive reaction from audiences around the country.
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