When can we start rehearsals?

As soon as your Show Application has been acknowledged by FOX PLAYS UK & Europe.

What are royalties and why do we have to pay them?

Royalties are the payment which the playwright receives each time a show is performed. To perform a Fox Play title you pay £50 per performance, payment must be sent with a completed licence application form (available from our Download pages or ask us to post you a copy.) We require that royalties be paid at least four weeks before the first performance in order to allow time for the processing of the licence.

What if we don’t charge an admission price?

Legally a production must be licensed if it is witnessed by the general public, regardless of whether or not an admission charge is being made to them.

Do we have to pay royalties for a school production?

If a production is performed only by members of the school before an audience of staff and students only 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), even if no admission charge is made, the production becomes a public one and royalties are payable.

We are raising money for charity. Could we have a royalty waiver or reduction?

Sorry, no, as royalties represent an author's income and the author chooses which, if any, charities he wishes to support. It is unfair to ask him to support other people's fund-raising in the form of lost royalties.

Our production is for a private group. Do we still have to pay royalties?

A production is private only if it takes place in a person's home and only before their family and friends. Performances given in any other place such as theatres, clubs, halls, schools, churches, nursing homes, etc. are public and royalties are payable.

What if we refuse or forget to pay the licence fee?

Licence fees are the playwright's remuneration and by putting on an unlicensed performance you are defrauding him of his income. Any unlicensed performance will be invoiced a surcharge to cover the playwright's lost earnings plus an administration fee, and recovery may be sought via the Courts.

Do we have to acknowledge FOX PLAYS UK & Europe in any way?

Yes. If you produce a programme or poster, or publish an advertisement, you must include both the production name and the name of the playwright and the words “By arrangement with FOX PLAYS UK & Europe”.

Can we change the dates and/or location of our production?

Yes of course, but you must advise FOX PLAYS UK & Europe of the new date/s and/or location/s as soon as possible, and certainly before the first performance. You should also return your performance licence for amendment to the new date/s and/or venue/s.

What if we have to cancel the show?

You must tell us immediately and return the licence to us. Any royalty payment you have made to us will be refunded on receipt of a duly signed show cancellation notice from your society, group or school, which must be received by us prior to the time of the first performance. Refunds cannot be given for cancellations notified to us after a licensed production date.