Theatre Resources

The BeeWaxing Blog

Lazy Bee Scripts has a blog which allows us to wax lyrical in a way that doesn't quite fit the main web site.
A lot of the material on the blog is about writing, editing and publishing, so may be useful to writers.
There may also be posts relevant to customers of this web site, and there are certainly posts that are of no relevance whatsoever (but allow us to let off steam) - mainly "Technological Tantrums". Anyway, the blog may be found at beewaxing.wordpress.com

Theatre information sites

Check out:-

all have tons of helpful information and links to more specific sites. The Amdram site in particular has classified ads and a web forum visited by lots of helpful experts in amateur theatre! British Theatre Guide covers a vast range of amateur and professional theatre topics. The webmaster (Peter Lathan) puts in a lot of time on the "editorial content" which gives the site an excellent authoritative feel.

Sources of Theatre Scripts

This section is here just in case you came straight to this page from a search engine!
This is the Lazy Bee Scripts web site. We publish works from the stage, all of which can be found on this site.

The corollary is that if it can't be found on this site, then we don't publish it! (If you are looking for something specific, where you know the title but don't know the source, then use a search engine; put the title in inverted commas and add the word "publisher".)

Theatre in Education

The Applied and Interactive Theatre Guide, managed by Toni Sant, has a theatre in education section, and also other sections which are equally relevant to teaching drama (and teaching through drama).
School Zone is a searchable site of education information (including links to well over 100 theatre-related sites). They have a rating system for educational relevance which scores Lazy Bee Scripts as highly recommended, hence this award logo:

Music

Most amateur theatre musical directors are overworked, hence I'm trying to compile a list of useful contacts for obtaining scores and other resources.

We have "backing CDs" and "rehearsal CDs" for some of our shows (and mp3 files for a few).
(The difference is that backing CDs are generally more elaborate arrangements, designed to accompany a performance.) Find out more from our Recordings Page.

Sound-Board.com provides high-quality backing tracks for songs. Sound-board offers a custom service (you specify the songs, they provide the tracks) or off-the-shelf sets of backing tracks designed for specific pantomimes and shows (notably SCInderella and the pantomimes of TLC Creative) which you can buy from our CDs page. They also recorded the spoof "Four and Twenty Advertisements" series of CDs (Browse the Theatrical Paraphernalia page).

I spent an age scouring music shops and libraries, failing to find a particular score. Then my sister put me in touch with Banks of York whose immediate response was to ask me which voices I wanted it for. Their shop seems to have been taken over by MusicRoom.com (whose services I have not tested). Banks seem to be operating in the field of choral music.

Noel Gay Music (8/9 Frith Street, London W1V 5TZ) have been useful, selling copies of otherwise out-of-print scores from their back catalogue (including stuff by the marvelous Leslie Sarony).

MIDI files of classical music tend to sound as though they are scored for barrel organ, however The Classical Music Archive - a library of MIDI files - can be useful for finding the piece of music you want. (Note that whilst most of the music in their catalogue is out of copyright, a MIDI file counts as a performance, and all the performances are copyrighted. The files may not be used without the permission of the copyright owner.)

Sounds

FindSounds.com has a unique way of cataloguing noises by wave form. (Fortunately, you can also search using text.)
The site acts as a link to many sources of sound.

Costumes

Some of our customers have used Bath Theatrical cosume hire based in Frome, UK (01373 472786) and given us good reports.
The giant used in the MKAOS production of TLC Creative's Jack and the Beanstalk came from Haslemere Wardrobe in Surrey (01428 642202)
Some of our writers who belong to theatrical companies in the Sheffield area have given enthusiastic recommendations for Molly Limpet's Theatrical Emporium Ltd on Chesterfield Road. (0114 2500851)
Many of the larger community theatre groups have extensive wardrobes and are willing to hire-out costumes. (See South London Theatre, below, for example.)
The same applies to some professional theatres.

Hanging Around

I had an enquiry about a hanging rig - a piece of equipment to allow an execution to be staged without actually endangering the life of the actor. I happened to know that Bob Heather's home company, RAODS had recently staged Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus, which involves a (comic!) hanging. They had hired a rig from Hi Fli Ltd who also have other (less threatening) ways of holding actors in suspense.

Illustration

We're not big on illustrations. This stems from our wish to create practical editions of plays - the sort that actors stuff in their pockets or fling around the stage. Consequently, cover art is not a high prioritity. On the other hand, we use it where we have it!
Jim Pinnock commissioned artist Dale French to provide illustrations for his scripts. These are available as 'optional extras' as downloads intended to form the basis of posters advertising the shows.
The artwork for TLC Creative shows and for the murder mysteries from Really Horrid Productions and Die Laughing Murder Mysteries was created by David Lovesy (of TLC Creative).
Most of the other murder mystery artwork was created by Stuart Ardern.

Amateur Theatre Societies

This is just a taster - there are lots of sites out there!

There is a great pleasure, for example, in finding a recipe for curry on the message board of the Grosvenor Light Opera Company web site.
South London Theatre web site is host to the Little Theatre Guild discussion board (so used by many other theatre groups). At one time the web site also had a Shakespearian insult generator. The company has an extensive wardrobe with costumes available for hire.
Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS) are another group advantaged by having their own theatre. (Amongst many great productions I've seen staged there, they've produced pantomimes by Bob Heather and by James Barry.

Murder Mysteries

Really Horrid Productions create some of the murder mystery scenarios published by Lazy Bee Scripts, but mainly they are an acting company, performing their murder mysteries at dinners and other functions in a wide area around Milton Keynes. Click on the logo to find out more, then "Dial 'em for murder!"

Lazy Bee Scripts Links