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Below are answers to some frequently asked
questions about performing Alan Ayckbourn's plays (reproduced from
Samuel French
website).
What's the difference between an amateur and a
professional production?
The actors in a professional production must either be members of Equity
or trained and/or recognised professional actors who work in the
business. Amateur actors perform as a leisure activity and earn their
living by other means.
Are fringe productions licensed as amateur or professional?
It depends upon the status of the actors (see above). A production
presented under an amateur licence in a fringe venue must be advertised
as being an amateur one.
How long before the production do we have to pay for our licence?
We request that royalties be paid four weeks before the first
performance in order to allow time for the processing of the licence.
Can we get a refund of royalties if our production is cancelled?
Yes. We must be advised as soon as you know that all or some of your
performances are being cancelled and the licence must be returned to us
for cancellation or amendment. Refunds cannot be granted if a period of
weeks has elapsed since the scheduled end of the production.
Do we have to pay royalties if we don't charge for admission?
Yes. Legally a production must be licensed if it is witnessed by the
general public, regardless of whether or not a charge is being made to
them. Also performances before audiences reduce the earning potential of
a play for which the author must be compensated in the form of royalty
fees.
We are raising money for charity. Can we get a royalty waiver or
reduction?
Unfortunately, no. Royalties represent authors' income and it isn't fair
to ask them to support other people's fundraising in the form of lost
royalties.
Our production is private. Do we still have to pay royalties?
A production is only private if it takes place in a person's home and
only before their family and friends. Performances given in clubs, halls
etc. are public ones.
Isn't a school production private?
If a play is performed by members of the school before an audience of
staff and students it is classified as an educational exercise and no
licence is required. However, if any persons from outside the school are
admitted (e.g. families and friends) the production becomes a public
one.
Why are plays restricted or made unavailable for performance?
A new play will not be released for amateur performance until the
professional stage life has been fully exploited. Similarly when an
existing play is revived professionally amateur rights are often
restricted or withdrawn completely until the professional contract has
expired. This is in order to protect the professional production's box
office income.
Surely our amateur production won't damage a professional revival?
Whether this is the case or not, it is standard practice for amateur
rights to be restricted and often professional producers' contracts
guarantee this. We liaise with authors' agents on many such applications
and they certainly do not wish to lose amateur royalty income
unnecessarily.
If a play is restricted, how long does it take to get an answer on
availability?
This depends on a number of factors including whether the agent is based
in this country or the U.S.A. and whether the author needs to be
consulted personally.
Is there anything else we should be careful of regarding restrictions?
We are required to check all applications for major plays in the London
area and in Edinburgh. This is because of the possibility of West End
productions and of the Edinburgh Festival respectively. The best advice
is always to establish that a play is available for performance before
committing to a production.
Can changes be made to scripts when they are being performed?
No changes of any kind may be made without the permission of the author
and this is a condition of our licence. This includes changing the sex
of characters and cutting out "bad" language. Some authors may agree to
changes if a persuasive case is put in support of the request, but this
is by no means always so.
If a play is published, why can't we perform it?
Plays may be published before amateur rights have been released or even
before the play has been performed professionally in this country. Such
scripts are intended, at least initially, to be read rather than
performed.
Can we video-record our production?
Video-recording is a complex issue. Recording rights are not available
at all with regard to productions of Alan Ayckbourn's plays. You should
make no plans to record your production until this question has been
fully researched and this should be done well in advance.
Administrator's note: In the case of
productions of Alan Ayckbourn's plays
When does a play go out of copyright?
In the British Isles and the European Union a play is in copyright until
70 years have elapsed from the death of the author. When a play is
performed in other parts of the world different laws may apply.
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Alan Ayckbourn's Agent / Professional
Performance Right Enquiries (Worldwide)
Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd
Waverley House
7 - 12 Noel Street
London
W1F 8GQ
Tel: 00 44 20 7287 4450
Fax: 00 44 20 7287 9128
e-mail:
tom@casarotto.co.uk
Performance Rights (UK and Europe)
Samuel French Ltd,
52 Fitzroy Street
Fitzrovia
London
W1T 5JR
Tel: 020 7255 4302 (performing rights department - plays)
Tel: 020 7255 4301 (musical plays department).
Website:
www.samuelfrench-london.co.uk
Performance Rights (USA)
Samuel French Inc
45 West 25th Street
New York
NY 10010
Tel: 212 206-8990
Fax: 212 206-1429
Email: info@samuelfrench.com
Website:
www.samuelfrench.com
Performance Rights
(Republic
of Ireland and Northern Ireland)
Drama League of Ireland
The Mill Theatre
Dundrum Town Centre
Dundrum
Dublin 16
Telephone: (00) 353 1 296 9343
E-mail: dli@eircom.net
Performance Rights (Australia)
Dominie Pty Ltd
8 Cross Street
Brookvale
NSW 2100
E-mail: drama@dominie.com.au
Performance Rights (East Africa)
Phoenix Players Ltd
P.O. Box 52383
00200
Nairobi
Kenya
E-mail:
phoenix@swiftkenya.com
Performance Rights (India)
Jagdish Raja
The Artistes’ Repertory Theatre
Jagriti Farm
Whitefield
Bangalore 560 066
E-mail:
samfren@jagrititheatre.com
Performance Rights (Malta)
Dingli Co. International Ltd
18/2 South Street
Valetta VLT 11
E-mail:
prs@maltanet.net
Performance Rights (New
Zealand)
Play Bureau (NZ) Ltd
P.O. Box 420
New Plymouth
E-mail:
play.bureau.nz@xtra.co.nz
Performance Rights (Canada)
Samuel French Inc
45 West 25th Street
New York
NY 10010
Tel: 212 206-8990
Fax: 212 206-1429
Email:
info@samuelfrench.com
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