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The following statement can
be downloaded
here
in Word Format or
here
in PDF format.
Bovingdon Players is
committed to compliance with all legislation and guidance affecting the
staging of productions, including the Children’s Act 1989, which sets
out requirements for protecting the welfare of children. The Players
subscribe to the Code of Good Practice which has been developed in order
to ensure the wellbeing of children in performances. In order to meet
its obligations, the following steps will be taken for each production
in which children appear:
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The director of the
production will be licensed by the Local Authority for working with
children, including a Criminal Records Bureau check
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All rehearsals will
be chaperoned by at least one adult in addition to the director.
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During performances
and dress rehearsals the children will be chaperoned at all times
off stage by at least one member of the Players who has been
licensed and who is not involved in the production. The chaperone
will solely be responsible for the welfare of the children and will
not undertake other duties before, during, or after the performance.
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The Players will
endeavour to ensure there are two licensed chaperones for
performances, one of each sex, and if the number of children exceeds
twelve, there will always be two chaperones.
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The children will
be allocated a separate changing area for dressing, to which adult
members of the cast and crew will not have access, except for the
chaperone. The children will not be permitted access to the adult
dressing room.
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No performance will
extend beyond 10:30pm, and it will be the Players’ aim to conclude
performances by 10pm.
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Rehearsals will
finish by 9pm on school nights wherever possible.
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The days on which
performances are held will not exceed 4 for any production.
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The Players will
ensure that no child appearing in a production has already
participated in other unlicensed performances – other than school
productions – in the previous six months. (The Players cannot be
held responsible for any additional performances which take place
after the Players’ production which breach this rule.)
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No child will be
individually identified by name in any photographs.
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The Players will
ensure that all children are fit to appear on stage, that any
child’s medical conditions are known to the director and all
chaperones, and that the chaperones know how to handle any related
problems. (Please note, however, that the Players reserve the right
to exclude a child from productions for their own safety where a
medical condition carries any risk which the Players may not be able
to manage. This does not include disability.)
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A register will be
kept for each rehearsal and performance in order to ensure that all
children are accounted for.
In order to ensure
successful productions, the Players expect all actors involved to commit
themselves
wholeheartedly to preparation and performance, and to participate in a
certain amount of publicity.
In particular we ask
that actors, including children;
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Come to all
scheduled rehearsals, except where they have notified the director
of pre-existing commitments prior to rehearsals beginning, or in
exceptional circumstances, such as illness.
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Attend the
designated dress rehearsals without fail.
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Learn all lines,
songs etc. by the deadline notified (which will typically be between
4 and 6 weeks in advance of the first performance).
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Are photographed
for publicity purposes, including appearing in the programme,
although children will be photographed only as part of a group, in
suitable dress (including costume, where appropriate). These
photographs may appear on the Players’ website. Children will not
be individually identified
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May be videoed for
the purposes of a record of the production, for viewing by
performers only. No commercial use will be made of any such video,
and it will not be made publicly available outside the members of
the production.
Parents are asked to confirm
that they accept these requirements
when accepting parts offered to their children.
Parents can download a copy of the 'Form for
Parents'
here
in Word format or
here
in PDF format
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