In law, the producer in charge of the performance, or in some circumstances, the casting agent, is responsible for ensuring that children are properly licensed to rehearse or perform.
Who is the licensing authority?
Normally, the Local Authority where the child lives
Who applies for the licence?
The person responsible for the production in which the child will take part. Where 'person' is a corporate body, the licence application should be signed by the individual responsible for that part of the business.
When must the licence application be made?
Twenty-one days before the first date of the performance
Information required for the licence to be processed is as follows:
- two passport size photograhs of the child/young person, taken within the last six months
- a copy of the child/young person's birth certificate
- a medical certificate or medical declaration for modelling assignments
- a letter from the child/young person's Headteacher authorising any absences that may be needed
Stage Performances
- a child/young person must not be at the place of performance for more than six days in any one week
- a child/young person must be licenced if they perform for more than four days in any six-month period
- a child/young person who attends school for a full day may only take part in one performance/rehearsal on that day
- there must be an interval of one and a half hours between two performances in the same day
- this interval may be reduced to 45 minutes on two days in a week, providing the child/young person is not at the place of performance for more than six hours
Night Work
- where the licensing authority is satisified that it is absolutely essential, a child/young person may take part in a performance after midnight and before the permitted starting time
- the hours after midnight are counted as part of the previous day's performing time
- there must be an interval of at least 16 hours before further work
- if night work takes place on two consecutive nights, there must be a seven day interval before any further night work
Licence applications should be sent to the Education Welfare Service to be processed, no less than 21 working days before the first performance.
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