Amateur Producers
A fail-proof guide for putting on a play:
Your first production meeting for the year is under way and the inevitable question arises...which play will you put on?
This guide shows the steps you need to follow, (and the order in which you need to do them), to produce one of our great New Zealand plays.
1. At the first production meeting you decide to produce a New Zealand play in your upcoming season.
2. Check out Playmarket's website to get some ideas for potential scripts or give Playmarket a ring on (04) 382 8462 for ideas to help with your search.
3. Order a couple of potential scripts.
4. Great - you've selected a script!. Fill in the
Online Rights Application Form or Download the Rights Application Form PDF and post or email it to Playmarket to secure the rights for production. Don't paint the set quite yet! Avoid disappointment and
wait until you hear from us first, just in case the play is being produced by someone else.
5. Now we draw up the licence contract and notify the playwright that you are producing their play.
6. The contract from Playmarket has arrived in the mail a fortnightor so later - now the fun begins! Contact New Zealand Theatre Federation to hire a rehearsal set of scripts for your cast...c'mon, start rehearsing!
7. Send back the signed contract with the advance payment (see How Much Will It Cost? below) - hold on to the End of Season Report Form - you'll need this after your sell out season.
8. Present you fantastic production to the applause of your local community - rave reviews follow for bringing New Zealand theatre to the people!
9. Send in your End of Season Report Form to let us know how you got on, to pay us any extra box office takings and to complete the contractual agreement.
10. Start thinking about the next one...
How much will it cost?
For a Full Length play we calculate the advance by multiplying the venue capacity (on a sliding scale) with the number of performances. For example, if a venue seats 50 - 99 people, we charge $80 per performance, making the advance for a 5 night season $400.
For One Act Plays we charge an advance of $60 per performance regardless of the venue size.
The advance is non-refundable.
At the end of season, if 10% (or 12.5% for a musical) of your total box office takings are greater than the advance fee then the remainder gets paid to Playmarket. Eg: Total takings for the season are $5620, 10% of which is $562. After the advance of $300 is subtracted from this, the remainder owing to Playmarket is $262.
NB: For countries outside New Zealand, contact the agency coordinator
Katrina Chandra for a quote - fees are charged in same currency as tickets sold or nearest stable currency.
