RSC chief in starring role to defend cash for theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Company's artistic director and one of its leading actresses had to prove to one of their toughest audiences yesterday that the Bard was worth £50m of taxpayers' money.

It was a stirring performance by Adrian Noble, artistic director of the RSC, and the actress Sinead Cusack, who is soon to play Cleopatra for the company, as they set out to prove to Shakespeare-sceptic MPs that they should be proud of our national playwright.

As revealed in The Independent last year, Mr Noble intends to demolish the listed Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and build a new more audience-friendly venue along with a "Shakespeare village'' where audiences can attend voice workshops or learn to sword-fight.

Mr Noble was summoned to explain himself to the House of Commons Select Committee on Media and Culture. He was also asked to explain his decision to leave the Barbican Centre in London and take his company to other venues in the capital.

Here, Mr Noble, one of the greatest theatre directors, showed himself not quite so cutting edge when it comes to popular music. He said he wanted to attract new audiences by putting on the late Shakespeare plays, pieces with music, at the Roundhouse, and attract the audiences who "would normally go to see the Clash".

But it was in defending the £100m Stratford plan – which involves a £50m grant from the Arts Council and £50m to be raised privately – that Mr Noble encountered the most hostility.

Debra Shipley, MP for Stourbridge in the West Midlands, said: "Lots and lots of money is coming to you and you don't reach out to my constituency. The rich may go but most people don't even know there's a theatre there. Stratford is a little satellite place for tourists and rich people. The money could be used for my windswept and bleak constituency."

Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, said: "I represent a former coalfield constituency. Tell me what I can tell my constituents to explain why you deserve £50m Arts Council money?"

And Mr Noble did tell them. With a quivering emotion that many of his leading men would envy, he said: "Shakespeare is an inspiring and motivating and mobilising force. And it's our duty to make his plays as accessible as possible. Stratford is a tourist Mecca and very important to the West Midlands. Shakespeare is our national playwright and we should be eager to attract people to his birthplace and grave-place.''

The new workshops, it was explained, would also introduce children interested in technology, lighting, textiles and metalwork to Shakespeare and to the theatre.

Ms Cusack said: "There's a social exclusivity about theatre-going in this country, and I hate it. I hate the fact that at the present Royal Shakespeare Theatre there are poor people at the back who can hardly hear and can hardly see.''

Looking hard at the MPs, she went on: "Shakespeare is our language and it is your constituents' language, and it affects everyone in their lives ... It can give children self-esteem and confidence and help them communicate in debate."

Gerald Kaufman, the committee chairman, praised the RSC as Britain's "major artistic institution" with an unparalleled international reputation. But he urged Mr Noble to make sure the sight-lines in the new theatre were good. Mr Kaufman said: "When Sam Mendes reconstructed the Donmar he did a marvellous job in everything except seeing the play."

Mr Kaufman said he knew how popular RSC productions were because he had just failed to get tickets for the production of King John.

"I can help you with that," said Mr Noble.

"Hey," interjected Ms Shipley, seized with a sudden enthusiasm for the Bard, "No favouritism please."