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Legal Eagle

Miscellaneous

Q: Profit making performances

We are two French nationals, based in the UK for the last eight years, who wish to present four performances on stage. As the show is intended to be profit-making, by what legal guidelines should our company abide?

A: Your question is so wide in scope and ranges over so many areas, each of which is a separate topic in itself, that I find it impossible to answer it in detail within the space available. However, a broad outline of the principal matters to be considered is as follows.

Firstly, you need to ensure that you have the right to present the performances under copyright law. How you go about this depends in turn on whether the subject matter of the performances is a straight play, a stage musical or variety bill and whether it comprises or includes copyright material which you yourselves have created and are free to present.

You will also need to ensure that the premises where you propose to present the performances are properly licensed in accordance with statutory regulations and that you have a contract with the venue owners or managers entitling you present the performances at the venue concerned on the relevant dates. As to the circumstances in which a licence or temporary event notice is required, please see my Legal Eagle column dated June 24, 2004.

You may need work permits if, as indicated, you intend to earn money from the enterprise or from performing yourselves on stage. The fact that you have been based in the UK for the last eight years indicates that possibly you already have work permits of some kind, or perhaps have established permanent residence in the UK, but without more information I cannot judge whether any further statutory requirements need to be met in this respect. If in doubt I suggest you contact Work Permits (UK) about the matter.

You will also need to enter into contracts of some kind with any other performers apart from yourselves, with any director and/or designers whose services you may need in relation to the production and with sets and costumes makers, technical equipment suppliers and any backers or financiers or private investors who are putting up the money required to prepare the performances for presentation on stage.

In addition to the above broad legal requirements applicable to your project, there are also other matters which will need to engage your attention as being within the responsibility of any live stage producer, such as insurance, rehearsal facilities, marketing and ticket sales, accounts and general management. I could go on at some length but your question gives no clue as to any particular area of concern.

First published 19th August 2004