FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -

How much does it cost?
The performance royalty fee is Rs 4500 ($100) per performance, which must be sent with the signed contract before you receive the entire play. For multiple performances, remaining payments must be sent within ten days.

What am I buying?
You are buying the right to perform a play written by me, Shivani Tibrewala. You are also buying the right to make the necessary number of copies of the specified play needed for your performance, to make copies of the handouts that go along with the play, and to make any changes to the script that you deem necessary to enhance your particular performance. Prior approval is not required to make the changes, but you must sign the contract and send payment before doing so.

How long are the plays?
The plays are each about 1 hour long.

How many acts or scenes are in each play?
My plays are generally one-acts.

Are the plays suitable for children?
The plays contain adult themes.NONE of my plays contain any drug or gang related material, nor is there any particularly "bad" language included in the dialog, but in general, my plays are written for adult entertainment.

Do you have any plays for children to perform?
No, nothing specifically for children to perform. But several of my plays have been performed by school-age children. HELPDESK, for example, is a play about a bunch of crazy people who desperately need help. Schoolboys aged 11-18 put on a show of Helpdesk for their prize-giving day at boarding school – with some of the boys dressing up like girls and receiving catcalls! They met with rave reviews. You would need to look at the perusal copies of my available shows and decide what is appropriate for your specific group.

Are the plays suitable for all audiences?
Yes. The plays do contain adult themes, and there is usually sexual inunendo included in the dialog. But you are given the right to make any changes to the script that you deem necessary for the success of your production, so anything that could be offensive to your particular group can easily be toned down. Be sure to check with me if further guidance is needed in selecting a play for your group.

How many actors do I need?
My shows have between 2 and 22 actors. In addition, you will need a stage manager for your performance night. Some shows require "volunteers" to assume small parts or participate in activities that are part of the show. Read the show descriptions for more details.

Must I use professional actors?
No. I myself have produced my script sometimes using people with little or no experience, and had enormously successful shows. Some shows are easier then others, and I'll be happy to give you a recommendation if you need more guidance.

Can an amateur group perform these shows?
Yes. Anybody can, including school-age children, community theater groups, fundraising groups, and members of churches and other specific organizations.

Can I combine a play with a conference and/or a dinner?
Yes. My plays can be wonderful ice-breakers for conferences, or any other event. During our own productions, we generally prefer dinner and drinks to be served after the show, since it lets everybody sit back and enjoy the show, and then enjoy their dinner equally.

However, you may choose to organize your event differently. One of my plays, THE LAST SUPPER, is a two-act murder mystery especially designed for supper theatre, that is ideal for corporate events. For this one, drinks are served before the play starts, dinner is served and cleared away in the interval between acts one and two, and dessert is served before act two begins. The evening generally lasts for about 3 hours.

Another one of my productions, RACCONTINI, is a series of 5 10-minute skits, that we have performed as supper theatre, with short intervals between the skits. This would work well for an event where you would like to shuffle theatre with some other acts like music or stand-up comedy, or for an awards ceremony.

If you need more guidance in this area, check with me, and I would be happy to help you come up with ideas for organizing your event.

Where are the shows supposed to be performed?
Anywhere. My shows have been successfully performed in a variety of locations, including restaurants, cafeterias, gardens, museums, art galleries, classrooms, auditoriums, clubhouses, nightclubs, banquet facilities, conference centers, even private homes!

Are the shows scripted or is it mostly improvisation?
My shows are all fully scripted with little or no improvisation required.

How do I pay?
I accept checks only that must be mailed with the signed contract. CLICK HERE to open and view the contract. If you decide you do want a show, you must print, sign and return to me with payment for one show. For multiple performances, full payment is due within 10 days of production.

What happens after I pay?
As soon as the signed contract and payment is received, I will send the selected play to you along with any other printed material needed for the show.

What if I have questions about my particular performance?
If you have any questions at all, need advice or just want to bounce ideas off of me, I'm only an e-mail away! I will promptly answer any questions and gladly give you advice. And because I have personally produced every show listed, I can tell you how I handle specific issues in each show.

Can you help with special props that may be needed?
Yes. Most of my shows have optional props that are easily assembled. For some shows, benches or ladders are handy, but if you don't have them, you can just use what's there. For example, for WHATEVER YOU SAY, when X & Y become pigeons and go up to roost, we have used everything from tables tied together to step-ladders to trees to the lighting catwalk to create a ‘higher ground’ for the roosting pigeons!

Can I read a brief description and/or perusal copy of each show?
Yes. Click the production list above to view a brief description of each play, including the number of characters in each.

I have other questions that need to be answered!
Please contact us at any time, we'll be happy to answer any and all questions!

Download Contract (you require Acrobat reader to view the contract)