It is my unyielding attachment to live theatre in all its many forms that first lured me to Hall for Cornwall and its hugely diverse programme of activities. From there it was but a short and painless step into becoming a patron as soon as this happy band of supporters came into being.
It was a bargain too good to refuse. It offers involvement, provides “ownership” and gives a sense of helping the local arts scene, no matter what one’s preference, to survive and thrive.
My thinking was simple: a community devoid of the arts is culturally impoverished and emotionally deprived. We need music, dance, art and drama as much as we need rugby, soccer, the Olympics, food, wine and a walk with the dog to provide a balance to the pressures and stress of daily life.
But the arts – like those other distractions‒cannot survive in a vacuum. There is a considerable cost incurred to mount the simplest of shows. As government funds dwindle and once-wealthy philanthropists feel the pinch, the financial net has to be cast wider afield.
If we want to continue enjoying the unique brand of stimulus only live theatre can provide – and at the increasingly high level seen at HfC – we have to do more than buy a ticket then sit back and applaud. We need to contribute more than this. Even just a little bit more.
To become a supporter costs a mere £27.50 a year. That’s not even 53 pence a week – a quarter the price of a cup of coffee.
Not only do you help HfC prosper and develop, but also there are benefits received at all levels of membership. It deserves a standing ovation.
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