Who owns the performance rights for Spike Milligan and John Antrobus'
play 'The Bedsitting room' and how do I apply for them?

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Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 16 Apr 2003 10:05 PDT

Hello garwboy

I called the company which represents John Antrobus and now have the
name, address, phone number and email of someone who has promised to
pass any written inquiry about performance rights directly to Mr.
Antrobus.

I could also give you an office address and phone number for the
person who represented Spike Milligan for many years before his death
last year.

If these details would be a satisfactory answer to your question,
please let me know.

Leli

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Clarification of Question by garwboy-ga on 17 Apr 2003 04:59 PDT

I've just sent this via e-mail as well, so you may get this twice.
Sorry, new to this sort of thing. I need to know who owns the rights
to the play 'the bedsitting room', a joint venture by Spike Milligan
and John Antrobus. This is difficult as Spike Milligan is dead, and i
thought Antrobus was too, but maybe not. I hope to put the play on as
an amateur production within my drama society, and I need to know if
I'm allowed, and how much will it cost if I'm charged per performance
as is normally the case. i need to know by May 6th in order to propose
the production to my committee. If one person or persons owned the
rights and could grant me permission it would be most welcome. Said
person(s) would be welcome to attend the performance free of charge if
it goes ahead, it would be in Cardiff, South Wales (if all else fails,
try bribery). The current information supplied is just the sort of
thing that I will probably need. Thanks for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by leli-ga on 17 Apr 2003 06:11 PDT

Hello again

Thanks for getting back to us. 

Since you say you are new to this sort of thing I thought I'd just
explain that you were quite right to post your message here where I
and other researchers can see it. (I expect your email went to the
editors.) Also, the way Google Answers works is that you get one
'official answer', at which point you are charged the price you have
offered for the question.

I'm afraid I have no more than the information I outlined in my
previous message. If it's enough for you, you can ask me to write up
all the details for you, or you have the choice of waiting to see if
another researcher comes up with full details of performance rights
etc., although I don't think these are to be found online.

From my conversation yesterday, I gathered that the company which
represents John Antrobus came on the scene too late to be have a
definite answer about "The Bedsitting Room", but they were very
helpful and said they would pass on any written enquiries straight
away.  Phoning the Milligan contact has produced no response so far,
probably because it's a one-person business and it's Easter time.
(This is someone who worked with him for years, his representative but
also a friend.)

I could offer to send an email which would be passed on to John
Antrobus, while you waited to see what that produced. However, there
would be advantages to you handling the communication yourself, as you
could explain everything directly to him, and he might well be more
interested in your request than a third-party note from a researcher.
You could also write to the Milligan contact.

So what I'm saying is ..... if you would like the two sets of contact
information I have, let me know and I'll post all the details as your
'official answer'. But you are quite entitled to hang on to see if
anyone else can do more for you.

Leli

PS I believe Antrobus will have his 70th. birthday this year.

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Clarification of Question by garwboy-ga on 23 Apr 2003 09:38 PDT

Cheers for this. it's getting quite urgent now, so I'll take the
details you have ASAP if you would be so kind. 70 years old? Cool, not
dead then, which is helpful. Thanks for your help again, I'll be back
for more info I bet.

Here's everything I know!


For years Spike Milligan's agent and manager was Norma Farnes. 

A Guardian article reporting his death includes this: 
Norma Farnes, his agent and manager, said: "For 35-years he has been
the dynamo in my life and he was my dearest friend. I will miss him
terribly."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,658856,00.html


This is her office address and phone:

Farnes Norma Management Ltd
9, Orme Court
London
W2 4RL

020 7229 4466



John Antrobus is represented by an agency called Rogers, Coleridge and
White, as I found out from this page:
http://www.4-wall.com/authors/authors_a/antrobus/antrobus_john.htm

Rogers,Coleridge & White Ltd 
20 Powis Mews,
London W11 1JN 

Phone:020 7221 3717
Fax:  020 7229 9084

At this agency I spoke to Rebecca Price who was very helpful and gave
me her email address. After the Easter weekend I sent her an email
inquiry about performance rights, asking her to pass it on. She
replied asking for a postal address for Mr. Antrobus to write to, as
he prefers to correspond by traditional mail. If you send a letter to
the agency for her attention, I am confident she will forward it
promptly. She has been very friendly and efficient in my dealings with
her.

I hope a letter to the Norma Farnes agency will also get a quick
response, but have to admit I've had no luck trying to get through by
phone. However, the contact details are up to date and in BT's current
business listings.


Your plan to stage "The Bed Sitting Room" sounds exciting and I really
hope it works out well.

As always with Google Answers, you are very welcome to ask for
clarification of anything in this answer which needs further
explanation.

Good luck with your plans!


Leli

PS Glad to hear you'll "be back for more info". Look forward to seeing
you around.




search strategy:

spike milligan agent OR manager
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22spike+milligan%22+agent+OR+manager&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

john antrobus agent OR manager
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22john+antrobus%22+agent+OR+manager&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

The addresses and phone numbers come from BT but I also checked them
on Google.

norma farnes agency address
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22norma+farnes%22+agency+address&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

BT directory enquiries
http://www.bt.com/directory-enquiries/dq_home.jsp

rogers coleridge white
://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Rogers%2CColeridge+%26+White+&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&meta=