Financial Notes from Stephen Hill

Since costume hire will be by far the biggest expenditure for our group, the amount to be collected from everyone will be in two parts: a costume hire element and a general expenses element.

The costume hire element will only be paid by those who are arranging to hire their costumes from G&S Costume Hire, Midland Costume Hire or The Costume Store (Portrait ghosts only), ie liason via Shani.

Each cast member hiring costumes will be responsible for their own hire costs.

Where I mentioned "members of the Savoynet Ruddigore group" I can define this to be the cast and the production team - that is, all those who will be working to put on the Ruddigore show in the theatre on Thursday August 5th. If there are others on the list who wish to contribute something to defray expenses, but who will not be able to be in Buxton, I would be very happy to receive it - either directly by post if need be, or via someone else who is travelling. Email me personally (if you have not already done so) to hill@ensay.u-net.com

Having spoken to Shani, there will not be a collection before arrival at Buxton - we can cover any costs anticipated to date. At present, the preferred payment method will be pounds sterling, paid in Buxton before the show. Obviously this will have to change if any unforseen costs crop up, but I do not think so.

Having said that we would rather not go to the hassle of arranging money transfers etc. in advance, it will be neccessary to state that as of 1st June anyone who has committed to hiring a costume and then has to drop out, will be responsible for that costume hire still. I'm sorry for this, but since the Savoynet group has now committed itself to this costume hire, I do not want to see any member of the production team out-of-pocket, or having to pass on the extra hire costs to everyone else.

The other costs: I intend to sum ALL other expenditure on the show, SUBTRACT profit from T-shirt/Caps, then DIVIDE amongst the group. I define the group here to be all those who (for the duration of the show run-up and production itself) would claim to be "members of the Savoynet Ruddigore group".

What are the other costs:-

  • Set - Paid by Festival (some very small additions requested by David will be sourced/organised by production team).

  • Lighting - Festival. David has not requested any other FX (yet !)

  • Costumes - see above. Costume accessories (shoes/buckles/gloves etc. paid by individuals). Paid by those hiring costumes.

  • Props - Sourced by group. Paid for if neccesary but several of us have access to local group prop-stocks and would use those before anything else (this is how props for C&B and TbJ were done in the main). Don't forget that we will be able to call on the Festival props team for help and (through them) the Pavillion Gardens. [The hat-stand for C&B had been in the Pavillion Gardens manager's office until 30 mins before curtain-up!]

  • Make-up - sourced by group.

  • Orchestra - provided by Festival.

  • Orchestra parts - provided by Larry.

  • Rehearsal rooms - part sourced by group (David has already posted some of these details). Remainder provided by Festival. I will be seeking financial help from the Smith's to offset some of our costs here. Also proposing to have tea/coffee with profits to group fund - Ta Jill D.!

  • Production Team expenses - these have been kept as low as possible. I haven't collated the costs yet, but my own are << 20 pounds. What other costs have I missed? Let me know. I believe that this show is (for us) relatively low cost. Whilst I cannot give a figure for this element yet - remember that with > 50 of us, and the t-shirt etc, fundraising - an amount of ten pounds/head would yield a far larger sum than we would need to cover costs!