The Stage

Welsh thanks

Published Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 09:25

I well remember meeting Peter Hepple for the first time. It was in the early seventies and I was in the throes of my struggle to establish a Welsh National Theatre. Wales as usual had declared herself dysfunctional in the matter and had consigned the whole thing to the familiar Taff bin. Peter listened to my tale of woe and in a few seconds, revived my spirits. Of all the people I had approached about a Welsh National Theatre, Peter was by far the most understanding and sympathetic.

He was instantly aware that four national theatres were better than just three (English, Irish, Scottish). For the next few years, around St David’s day, Peter would publish my own little diatribes on the subject, not so much with an eye to instant success but to ensure that the flame was kept alive.

My little Black Book on the Welsh Theatre, a collection of these articles, is still doing the rounds. Now we learn, again from The Stage (November 2, page 4), that no less a person than Professor Dai Smith, chair of arts Council of Wales, has declared himself in favour of a Welsh National Theatre and in highly official terms too (£500,000.) I can only hope that when the curtain rises on the first production, Peter Hepple’s genial ghost will be seen smilingly encouragingly from the wings, forever the Harbinger of Hope!

Wales thanks you, Peter.

Dedwydd Jones

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