Nice and simple:
For get-in, get-out, set up and rehearsal time, £20 per hour or part thereof. The hourly rate for the performance time is £30 per hour. If you are a commercial operation, then we also require 20% of the box office take. When we send you a booking form we will, in common with other theatrical venues, be sending out a 'Terms And Conditions' document which you will also be asked to sign as a condition of the hire.
2. If you are a non-commercial organisation, eg: a local school, then the above rates apply without the 20% box office take.
3. If you are a local charitable organisation then please come and talk to us as we seldom charge if you are a registered charity. To date we have offered the theatre as a free venue to Macmillan Cancer Relief, The Tenterden Lions, Pilgrims' Hospice, The Rare Breeds Centre (Canterbury Oast Trust), Cancer Research UK and many other local charities.
What's included in the price?
The theatre, the services of a lighting technician, including a set number of agreed rigging and programming hours, front of house and bar staff and most of the theatre's technical equipment.
What's not included?
If you have a complex show, we do not have an 'in-house' sound engineer. You are welcome to provide your own, if suitably qualified, or we have a register of local freelancers who are familiar with The Sinden's set-up. Because of ongoing problems with continuing damage to our radio mics, we will, in future, be making an additional charge for their use of around £5 per channel, per day in common with all other theatrical venues in the area.
We expect that, after a hiring, the theatre, dressing rooms and all other associated areas will be left in a clean and tidy state. If additional cleaning is required, this will be recharged to the hirer at £15 per hour, or part thereof.
Photography and Video
The current laws relating to the video recording or photography of any theatrical performances, particularly where children and copyright are concerned, are extremely complex. If you wish to have your show professionally videotaped, we hold a register of local companies that can provide this service and have the necessary CRB clearances.
Please discuss this with us before your show so that both The Sinden, and parents, are aware of the legal formalities. We always ask, in pre-show announcements, that all mobile phones are switched off completely before a performance. Not only does this prevent the possibility of illegal photographs being taken under current child protection legislation, mobile phones can also cause serious interference with the theatre's radio microphone system. Under current laws, if you, as the hirer of the theatre are happy to allow parents to take photos or videos, whether on a camera or mobile phone, it is incumbent on you, as the organiser, to provide a signed declaration from the parent or guardian of every child taking part, that they consent to any such photo or video.
Risk Assessment
A fully-approved risk assessment of The Sinden is available as a PDF file and is available on request from the theatre manager.
We already have bookings until November 2012! Please do try and book early to avoid disappointment.
