Rights cost more

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 23

Rights cost more

The Court Theatre has had to buy construction plans as well as rights for “The Little Shop of Horrors.”

The plans are for four different puppets so that “Audrey II,” the plant that grows in the play, will be of the same standard as the original New York production.

Rights for plays such as “Little Shop of Horrors” are becoming harder to get, according to the Court’s artistic director, Elric Hooper. Few people outside the theatre realize that one in every 10 dollars taken at the box office goes to the authors of the play, he says. Their estate continues to receive these royalties for 50 years after their death. “To protect both the author’s reputation and pocket, the author’s agent is very careful to whom licences are granted to perform plays."

In recent years with lucrative international successes like “Amadeus,” “The Real Thing” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” there has been an increased awareness of the money to be made from big stage successes, and with the growth of computer systems, the policing of rights has become more efficient, he says.

“There was a time when performers in New Zealand thought they were so far away from the theatrical agents and scrutiny, that works were performed without licences and without the paying of royalties. “Those days are over, as some organisations have found to their horror in recent years. Playmarket in New Zealand protects our native authors and agents for various publishing houses scrutinise newspapers to see what is being offered in theatres.”

Getting the rights tc successful shows can be tough work. On more than one occasion the Court has had to ask friends in London or New York to make personal approaches to agents to assure them of the professional excellence of the theatre before licences have been granted. Both “Mr Cinders” and “Little Shop of Horrors” have been shows of this sort.

The contractural obligations can include more than payment of royalties. A large advance is nearly always requested, and was for “Little Shop of Horrors.”

There may be further charges for the hire of the scripts and the scores and, as with “Little Shop of Horrors,” the plans for special effects.

“Little Shop of Horrors’ opens on November 23.