At Concord Theatricals, we understand each producing organisation we work with is unique and has varied needs based on casting pools, audience, and location. We are committed to helping you make theatre happen in your community, while also honouring the intent of our Authors. We often receive questions such as the following:
- Can I make changes to the script for my production?
- Can I combine two characters into one?
- Can I change the locale of the play?
- Can we edit out the “bad language”/references to smoking and drinking/any references to a deity?
- Can we change the play title?
- Can we change character names?
- Can we cast male roles with female actors (or vice versa)?
- Can we change the order of the scenes?
- Can we add a dance/song number to the show?
All of these are examples of changes that require permission from the author or their estate. As a reminder, you cannot make any changes to a play or musical for the purposes of production without first obtaining written permission from the rights holder.
The gender of the characters can not be changed or altered in any way (for instance, by way of costume or physical change) unless explicitly noted in the script or your licence. In most cases, if you wish to have someone who identifies as a different gender to that of the character they’re playing, this is permissible providing the character is played, costumed, and presented as the gender denoted in the text. This cannot be played in a heightened or conceptual way that would undermine the character’s role within the play or the intentions of the author. Additionally, you cannot not make any changes to the text whatsoever to facilitate this casting.
If you wish to alter the gender of the character from what is denoted the text, this is considered a textual change and so express permission must be obtained for this.
To request permission to make changes to the script, please email your Licensing Representative with a detailed list of your desired changes (including the topics above) and your licence request number in your correspondence. Please do not contact the Author or agent with your request directly.
If your changes are not approved by the rightsholder, the play must be presented only as written by the author without changes, additions, alterations or deletions to the text or title. These restrictions include, without limitation, altering, updating or amending the time, locales or settings of the play in any way.