Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Guild warns over new play commissions

Writers' Guild General Secretary, Bernie Corbett, has warned that theatres might reduce the number of new play commissions in the face of upcoming budget cuts.

Speaking to Matthew Hemley in The Stage, Corbett said:
“While we have collective agreements that set minimum fees, we don’t have agreements guaranteeing any given number of new commissions.

"...Theatres can’t cheapskate on fees to writers, but they can say that, instead of commissioning six new plays, they will only commission four next year. That is bad from our point of view and it’s a worry.”

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11:09 pm

    "...Theatres can’t cheapskate on fees to writers, but they can say that, instead of commissioning six new plays, they will only commission four next year. That is bad from our point of view and it’s a worry.”

    What about Production Companies operating from Theatres? Only the other week Katapult were asking for One-Act plays in the Guild's e-bulletin and on the S.O.A. website. I have been told that they are Equity members and a new company but they have failed to respond to my letter asking them if they are signed up to the ITC agreement. (They are connected with the Sarah Thorne Theatre Club though not mentioned on their website.)

    If not I suppose they can demand what they want of writers who are desperate to get established. I assume Katapult are not and probably not paying anything. Yet the WGGB & S.O.E. advertise these companies as opportunities.

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