Arts chief speaks out

Christine Bradwell, chief executive of The Anvil, who has maintained a public silence throughout the Haymarket decision-making process, talks exclusively to The Gazette's leisure and entertainment editor Joanne Mace and answers questions relating to the Haymarket controversy.

Q: How do you explain the perception that The Anvil is "taking over" the Haymarket?
A : I think that it's understandable how the situation escalated because people have very strong, firm views. They've been involved with the theatre for many years and nobody likes to see change. But resisting change is not possible ad infinitum.

There have been an awful lot of things said, and all sorts of claims made on our behalf about things we are and are not going to do. Things which actually are not based on any evidence, and certainly not on the paper which I wrote as part of the (local arts review) process From Threat to Opportunity, her March 2006 vision statement.

We've made absolutely clear that the amateur groups would be very welcome and we already work with many of them at The Anvil. There's been an assumption that there would be no room for the amateurs. That's absolute nonsense.

Q: Can you give any idea of what your plans are, particularly as far as live theatre is concerned?
A: Yes, there will be drama. Yes, there will be plays. And we hope to produce in Basingstoke as well. Until we have final details of our funding agreement, we can't be absolutely sure, but certainly it is our intention that we both produce in Basingstoke, and that we will co-produce.

There are certain areas of drama that haven't been particularly well represented, for instance, in terms of international drama, and we have particular interest in works for young people, and not just the little ones. We're particularly interested in working in all genres, not just in drama.

Q: Are any wheels in motion at present - talks with other arts organisations, plans for refurbishment or box office relocation?
A: We have always worked with the other arts organisations, and will certainly happily go on working with them. If you go back to the vision statement, what we talked about was not just the buildings, important as those buildings are. What we talked about was the performing arts in Basingstoke inside and outside.

It's only been two weeks, but I think it's important to make clear to people that the Haymarket building belongs to the council. The building goes back to the council when the Basingstoke Theatre Trust vacate it. The Anvil doesn't go into the building or have a lease until the end of July. Between the end of January and the beginning of July, it's the council who will be responsible for that building, not The Anvil.

It's the borough council who have to do the survey and obviously they'll be discussing with us what the results are. The Anvil Trust will then take on a lease for that building.

Q: And the plan is still to reopen in September?
A: We see no reason at all why we won't be reopening in September.

Q: What links will be established between the two buildings?
A: It's going to be one organisation. All the staff will work in both buildings. I can't comment on any other staff issues at the moment.

Q: What about the retaining of figures from the Basingstoke Theatre Trust or the Haymarket board?
A: The only thing I can say is obviously we would be looking to recruit new members of our board anyway.

Q: Is it your intention to bring anyone in particular on board?
A: I'm not going to answer that question at the moment.

Q: What about the Haymakers?
A: We'd be delighted to work with the volunteers and I had a meeting with them on Friday. Rather than calling a big meeting, I am going to talk to individuals or small groups of people. Obviously, things are going to be different, but that doesn't mean that their ideas won't be welcome.

I think that to appeal to a wider group of people, part of that has to be the whole ambience of the building. At The Anvil, we have so many different kinds of audience, some of whom, if they met each other, would probably be quite surprised to find themselves in the same building. But that's perfectly possible. You're not actually defined by the building.

Q: Has it been hard to retain your initial optimism regarding the future of the arts in Basingstoke because of how things have played out?
A: If we go back to why did we think it was possible, what we did was look at it as a team of senior arts professionals. We've worked in this town for a long time. When we were asked to address how did we think performing arts could be sustained for the next 10 years, we thought that by working as one organisation, it stood the best chance.

We started with the passion. We have a belief in the power of that shared arts experience. It's our absolute belief in that - and the fact that the Haymarket is a lovely space - that has sustained us through what hasn't been a very pleasant experience.

The irony of this situation is that my background is almost entirely in drama and dance.

The theatres and touring companies of the area, mostly run by very old friends, have all been supportive. We've had a lot of support from within the business. And from in the town too.

Now our hope would be, now there is a decision, that people will give us the benefit of the doubt as to our intention.

People are going to have to wait until the programme is announced and I think they will be pleased when they see it.

It's not about throwing away the past. It's actually about celebrating the past and creating the future.

Christine Bradwell factfile
Current position

• chief executive, The Anvil Previous positions
  
• director, South Hill Park, Bracknell
• drama and dance director, The British Council
• dance and festivals officer, Southern Arts Association
• theatre and dance officer, South West Arts Association
• director, Bag and Baggage Theatre Company
• co-director of Moves Afoot, regional dance touring project
• founder member of Avon Touring, one of the country's first community theatre companies, based in Bristol. Other founder members included Tony Robinson.

Worked as an actor in repertory, in theatre nationally and internationally, and on television in General Hospital and Moonbase Three Other experience

• chair, Theatre Royal Winchester
• governor, Wyvern Theatre Trust, Swindon
• ex-officio membership of the Arts Council Drama, Dance and Touring panels