Full General Terms and Conditions

Full Plays

One Act

Summary T & C's

Scripts cannot be altered / copied in any way without prior consent
Purchase of a script is not a licence to perform
Purchase of a performance licence after the event will incur a 50% surcharge
License Refunds Please see section below

Summary T & C'c - Publicity

All leaflets, posters, adverts, programmes, videos and tickets should acknowledge the following:

The Authors name
That the play is produced in association with "Comedy Plays"

Alterations to Scripts
If you feel the need to make amendments, additions or omissions to any of our scripts - Please don't!

Contacts us first, most of our writers will accommodate you.

Copyright Protection in Written Works

The titles in this web site are fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the United States of America and all countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions. All rights, including Stage, Motion Picture, Radio, Television, Public Reading and Translations into Foreign Languages, are strictly reserved. No part of these works may lawfully be reproduced in ANY form or by any means -- photocopying, typescript, recording (including video recording), manuscript, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise -- or be transmitted or stored in a retrieval system, without prior permission.

Changes in UK Copyright Laws

Copyright now subsists in the work of a writer until the end of the seventieth year following his or her death, rather than the end of the fiftieth year as hitherto and works which were considered to be out of copyright have been brought back into protection and become liable for royalty payment when performed if the author has been dead for less than seventy years. Thus, a number of writers whose work was in the public domain are affected.

Public Performances

Protection against unlawful performances of plays is afforded to dramatic authors by means of copyright. Under the Copyright Law no public performance or reading of a protected play may be given, either in its entirety or in the form of excerpts, without the prior consent of the owner of the copyright. As agents for the copyright owners we issue licences for performances on payment of a fee. The fees quoted are subject to contract and subject to variation at the sole discretion of Comedy Plays. Fees for performances given in premises seating 400 or more persons will be subject to negotiation.

Private and Domestic Performances

The precise stage at which a reading or other representation of a play ceases to be a public performance and becomes a private and domestic one will depend entirely upon circumstances. Performances that take place in one's own home and under certain conditions in hospitals and institutions can be domestic; but it is not safe to assume that they are invariably so. It is always advisable to furnish us with the full facts of each individual case, and to apply for a free licence before any performance or reading takes place.

Charity Performances

If it is intended to give a performance in aid of charity the owner of the copyright will not consent to reduce, or waive claim to, the usual fee unless by prior arrangement with Comedy Plays

Performances Overseas

There may be restrictions on the performance of certain plays overseas. Amateurs intending production overseas must, in their own interest, make application to us, before starting rehearsals or booking a theatre or hall.

Prior Consent

It is important that the consent of the copyright owner should be obtained before any performance of a play is given. Payment of the fee and obtaining the licence after the event will be subject to a 50% surcharge

Video Recordings

It should not be assumed that any play may be video recorded for whatever purpose without first obtaining the permission of the appropriate agents. The fact that a play/panto/sketch is included in the Comedy Plays list does not indicate that video rights are available or that Comedy Plays controls such rights.

Writers Terms and Conditions (Summary of writers terms click here)

By registering your works with comedyplays.co.uk you give Comedy Plays the right to issue copies of scripts for performance and authorise third parties to perform said works. All performances of works registered with comedyplays.co.uk must be authorised and licensed by Comedy Plays. Comedy Plays will issue licenses, collect fees and pay the appropriate Royalties fourteen days after such payment has been received. Comedy Plays will not be liable for any outstanding fee in the case of a licensee bad debt. Copyright remains with the author at all times. Works will be posted on the site within seven days of receipt of all the required information. All enquiries regarding any registered piece must be directed through Comedy Plays. An author may remove any piece from the site by giving 4 weeks notice in writing to Comedy Plays. All rights to issue performance authorisation reverts back to the author and all copies of scripts will be returned. Comedy Plays reserve the right to remove any work without prior notice to the author should any work be deemed to be offensive to any group, race, culture, religion, organisation, person or persons or if it is deemed to be libellous to any of the aforementioned or in anyway considered unsuitable for this site.

Publicity

All notices, posters, flyers, programmes, advertisements (all media), radio and TV broadcasts must acknowledge the following:-

The author of the work
The work(s) have been sourced via, www.comedyplays.co.uk

Cancelation and Refund Policy

Full refunds of license fees will only be given if Comedy Plays are informed a minimum of 5 days prior to the first performance date. Refunds may be considered after that date but only for exceptional circumstances as Royalty fees may have been paid to the author and therefore not recoverable. Comedy Plays decision is final.

Refunds will not be given in the case of poor audience attendance or cancellation due to adverse weather