“So, you wanna’ be a Producer?!” Section 2.1

THE SOCIETY OF LONDON THEATRE (SOLT)

1.1 Introduction

The Society of London Theatre was formed in 1908 by the famous Actor Manager, Sir Charles Wyndham. Originally named The Society of West End Theatre Managers, it has changed its name to The Society of West End Theatre, and latterly, The Society of London Theatre, to reflect an increasingly wider London membership. The Society is colloquially referred to as ‘SOLT’.

The Society represents the interests of the producers, owners and managers who work in more than 50 of London’s commercial and state-supported theatres. Theatres currently represented in SOLT membership are:

•  Adelphi

•  Aldwych

•  Apollo

•  Apollo Victoria

•  Arts

•  Barbican (Barbican, Pit)

•  Cambridge

•  Coliseum

•  Criterion

•  Dominion

•  Donmar Warehouse

•  Drury Lane, Theatre Royal

•  Duchess

•  Duke of York's

•  Fortune

•  Garrick

•  Gielgud

•  Shakespeare’s Globe *

•  Harold Pinter

•  Haymarket, Theatre Royal

•  Her Majesty’s

•  London Apollo Hammersmith

•  London Palladium

•  Lyceum

•  Lyric

•  National (Olivier, Lyttelton,Cottesloe)

•  New Ambassadors

•  New London

•  Old Vic

•  Open Air *

•  Palace

•  Peacock

•  Phoenix

•  Piccadilly

•  Playhouse

•  Prince Edward

•  Prince of Wales

•  Queen’s

•  Royal Court

•  Royal Opera House

•  Sadler’s Wells

•  St Martin's

•  Savoy

•  Shaftesbury

•  Novello

•  Vaudeville

•  Victoria Palace

•  Whitehall

•  Wyndham's

* Seasonal

1.3 SOLT Publications

Publications include:

•  the Official London Theatre Guide - the definitive fortnightly listing of productions in SOLT member theatres

•  the Official London Theatre Guide Online – the world’s leading London theatre website, constantly updated

•  (www.OfficialLondonTheatre.co.uk)

•  the Theatre List, a detailed fortnightly-updated list of current shows and forthcoming shows aimed at theatre professionals, critics, and committed theatregoers

•  the Access Guide to London’s Theatres detailing access and equipment facilities and details of concessionary price/s

•  the Box Office Data Report – annual summary and analysis of the previous years’ box office figures, published each Spring

•  The Wyndham Report, After Wyndham – a continuing series of research and campaigning reports into key issues affecting London theatre

•  the West End Theatre Audience Report – the result of a major research project by MORI into the profile of current theatre audiences.

1.4 SOLT Services

Services include:

•  tkts Ticket Booths in Leicester Square and Canary Wharf DLR station provide on the day sales to personal callers

•  Fax Back Service - dial a number and receive a seating plan

•  Newspaper listings – comprehensive theatre listings compiled currently for The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Daily Mail,

The Mail on Sunday and smaller syndicated publications

•  First Night List and Photocall Diary – two SOLT-administered services to avoid publicity clashes

•  Theatreland Car Parking Scheme - special evening rates for theatre-goers at selected Westminster City Council Masterpark car parks

•  Professional forums – SOLT-chaired discussion and action groups open to Members and their colleagues, e.g. SOLT Marketing Group.

1.5 SOLT Promotional Activities

Promotional activities include:

•  two big promotions and audience development initiatives during

•  the year:

o  Get Into London Theatre in January which features offers on many West End shows (www.getintolondontheatre.com)

o  Kids Week in the West End, an annual late-summer audience development initiative featuring ‘Kids Go Free’ ticket offer and arrange of events, tours and parties (www.kidsweek.co.uk)

•  Theatre Tokens - a nationwide gift token scheme, on sale at theatres, most branches of WH Smith, by telephone on 0870 164 8800 and online at www.theatretokens.com

•  Travel Trade Conference/Exhibitions – representing London theatre at shows including World Travel Fair and British Travel Trade Fair

•  The Laurence Olivier Awards – the annual celebration of excellence on the London stage.

1.6 To become a Producing Member of SOLT

In order to apply for membership a producer should contact SOLT in the first instance, and will then need to seek two Board members who are willing to propose and second the application. Subject to Board approval the application will then go to a ballot of the whole membership where a simple majority will secure election. A producer will need to place four deposits with the LTC (see section 2.3) and establish a good track record of meeting obligations to Equity members before being granted ‘non-deposit’ status.

1.7 Benefits of Membership

include:-

•  standard contracts, minimum terms and conditions for employees with entertainment unions Equity, M.U. and BECTU

•  free legal, industrial and professional advice from in-house staff on all aspects of theatrical management

•  advertising opportunities at preferential rates in the London Theatre Guide (distributed fortnightly to 175,500 readers)

•  publications and promotion initiatives

•  a public affairs and lobbying service from in-house staff and a concerted ‘national’ press voice

•  access to the Society’s Angels list

•  regular circulations on current management information and issues, e.g. industrial relations, employment law

•  national lobbying for theatrical causes

•  eligibility to participate in the Laurence Olivier Awards.

1.8

SOLT shares offices and some staff with the TMA (see Section 2.2)

Address: 32 Rose Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9ET
Tel: 020 7557 6700
Fax: 020 7557 6799
Email:
Website: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

1.9

SOLT provides financial support annually to Stage One. In addition, SOLT jointly established the Bursaries for New Producers with Stage One and provides matching funding for the scheme.

© SOLT