cultural_philistine
HAL_9000The cost of independent theatre
November 15th 2007 12:51
For the prurient, and the insane.
A producer earlier this year gave me the following guidelines: --
120-capacity theatre (presumably places like The Edge), 4 week run, 5 shows per week, 40% full each night, $25 per ticket: $24,000
Less 30% (unspecified for what; presumably for theatre rental): $7200
Raw takings: $16,800
Expenses:
Performing rights (amateur): $2400
Publicist (presumably someone like Watchdog Communications): $1900
Director: $2000
Stage manager: $800
Printing: $800
Costumes: $200
Rehearsal space hire (this sounds far too cheap to me): $125
Postage, photocopying, misc: $200
Advertising in SMH (4 weeks): $1200
Advertising (weeklies): $345
TOTAL: $10,770
Net takings: $6030 (to be split between actors, producer, etc)
The producer also noted that the fourth week is the best week. She attributed it mainly to word-of-mouth, although I think there's also factors like: people procrastinating, and putting it off till the last second; and people thinking that the production is better in its final week.
Moira Buffini earlier this year sent around a cost breakdown (in the course of asking for donations): --
Venue hire: Stables Theatre and rehearsal space: $11,000
Production: set, props, costume, lighting and sound: $5000
Marketing: flyers, posters, publicist and SMH listing: $5000
Royalties to the writer: $3000
Ticketing costs (selling a third of tickets): $3000
Administration and insurance: $3000
Total: $30,000
And note that this doesn't include paying cast and crew.
Sydney University Drama Society has a budget of $350 for most of its Cellar productions.
For its "major" productions (which usually run for around a week at Seymour Downstairs), I think it's something like $2500 or $5000 (and, oftentimes, additional funds/freebies are garnered from local businesses). They do have a special relationship with the Centre though.
Someone once gave me a figure for the Genesian Theatre. Wish I could remember it now.
$20,000 or $30,000 seems about right.
If anyone has more information, please post it here!
No idea what STC costs, for instance, and it presumably varies a lot between plays. You might get some sort of ballpark if you check out the box office revenue for David Williamson (although I think I read somewhere that, somewhat atypically, Williamson plays actually make a profit -- whereas, for a short period, even with government grants and other donations, I think the STC was running at a loss).
~~~
A producer earlier this year gave me the following guidelines: --
120-capacity theatre (presumably places like The Edge), 4 week run, 5 shows per week, 40% full each night, $25 per ticket: $24,000
Less 30% (unspecified for what; presumably for theatre rental): $7200
Raw takings: $16,800
Expenses:
Performing rights (amateur): $2400
Publicist (presumably someone like Watchdog Communications): $1900
Stage manager: $800
Printing: $800
Costumes: $200
Rehearsal space hire (this sounds far too cheap to me): $125
Postage, photocopying, misc: $200
Advertising in SMH (4 weeks): $1200
Advertising (weeklies): $345
TOTAL: $10,770
Net takings: $6030 (to be split between actors, producer, etc)
The producer also noted that the fourth week is the best week. She attributed it mainly to word-of-mouth, although I think there's also factors like: people procrastinating, and putting it off till the last second; and people thinking that the production is better in its final week.
~~~
Moira Buffini earlier this year sent around a cost breakdown (in the course of asking for donations): --
Venue hire: Stables Theatre and rehearsal space: $11,000
Production: set, props, costume, lighting and sound: $5000
Marketing: flyers, posters, publicist and SMH listing: $5000
Royalties to the writer: $3000
Ticketing costs (selling a third of tickets): $3000
Total: $30,000
And note that this doesn't include paying cast and crew.
~~~
Sydney University Drama Society has a budget of $350 for most of its Cellar productions.
For its "major" productions (which usually run for around a week at Seymour Downstairs), I think it's something like $2500 or $5000 (and, oftentimes, additional funds/freebies are garnered from local businesses). They do have a special relationship with the Centre though.
~~~
Someone once gave me a figure for the Genesian Theatre. Wish I could remember it now.
$20,000 or $30,000 seems about right.
~~~
If anyone has more information, please post it here!
No idea what STC costs, for instance, and it presumably varies a lot between plays. You might get some sort of ballpark if you check out the box office revenue for David Williamson (although I think I read somewhere that, somewhat atypically, Williamson plays actually make a profit -- whereas, for a short period, even with government grants and other donations, I think the STC was running at a loss).
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