Four Rivers Commissioning Policy

Four Rivers actively promotes new writing in and from the South East of Ireland.

There are two strands to our commissioning policy-

Optioning Existing Work.

Four Rivers pays an option fees for already written new plays and plays in copywright within the repertoire.

This option fee gives Four Rivers an exclusive right to produce the play within Ireland and internationally.

The option is time limited.

The option fee is €2,500 and is not refundable.

€1000 of the option fee is an advance on royalty in the event of production.

Once a play goes into production the writer, if required to attend, will be paid an attendance fee and expenses for the rehearsal period.

Writers will be paid 10% royalties on all accrued box office net of ticket charges and credit card commissions.

In the case of a new work, Four Rivers retain the right to future exploitation of a produced play for a calendar year following the last performance of the initial run of the play. If the company does not exercise this option for future exploitation then the rights revert to the author.

For optioned new work Four Rivers reserves the right to seek re-writes and amendments to the text and to ask the writer to work with the Four Rivers dramaturg in the preparation of a rehearsal draft.

While Four Rivers retains the right to nominate the creative team and cast the writer will be consulted at every stage of this process.

Commissioning

Four Rivers is pro-active in commissioning new work.

Four Rivers will offer a commissioning fee of €2,500 for a first draft of a new or adapted work to be delivered to the company no later than twelve months from the date of the commission.

The writer will have the services of the Four Rivers Artistic Director, Ben Barnes and Four Rivers Dramaturg, Louise Stephens available throughout the initial drafting phase and workshop time and space (courtesy of partner theatres the National Opera House or Wexford Arts Centre) will be made available as necessary.

As part of the commission agreement Four Rivers can request, after the delivery of a first draft, two further drafts and following these the company must agree to formally option the play for production or allow the writer to take it elsewhere.

The option fee (as distinct from the Commissioning fee) is a further €2,500 and is time limited and non-refundable.

€1000 of the option fee is an advance on royalty.

Once a play goes into production the writer will be paid an attendance fee and expenses for the rehearsal period.

Writers will be paid 10% royalties on all accrued box office net of ticket charges and credit card commissions.

Four Rivers retain the right to future exploitation of a produced play for a calendar year following the last performance of the initial run of the play. If the company does not exercise this option for future exploitation then the rights revert to the writer.

For commissioned work Four Rivers reserves the right to seek re-writes and amendments in consultation with the writer and to ask the writer to work with the Four Rivers dramaturg in the preparation of a rehearsal draft.

While Four Rivers retains the right to nominate the creative team and cast the writer will be consulted at every stage of this process.