Any performance of a copyrighted work in front of an audience must be licensed, regardless of whether or not admission is charged, whether the performance is public or private, and whether it is for charity or gain.

Having a fully executed license is required by law and ensures that playwrights and composers are being fairly compensated for the use of their work.

Applying for a licence is easy. We have an online application form https://origin.origintheatrical.com.au/ 

Please note: Your License Agreement is not executed until we have received the signed Licence Agreement and full payment of the licensing fees. Receipt of a Purchase Order is not considered final payment.

“Restricted” means the play may be unavailable for you to produce. There are many possible reasons for this. There may be a national tour, a nearby production running or in the works.

If the title is “restricted”, we still encourage you to apply as approvals are possible. We can never guarantee approval as restrictions constantly change; we suggest applications for a few titles so that you are not left without a show to fill that slot in your season.

Some titles in our catalogue can be approved within the week, while many others can take longer. We always advise applicants to apply as far in advance as possible, as clearances for certain shows may take up to 4-6 weeks.

Please also bear in mind that absolutely no advertising, promotion, auditions, casting, rehearsals, or performances may begin unless and until your contract is signed and payment is received.

We accept licensing applications up to 18 months in advance of your final performance.

Licenses are classified as Professional or Amateur based on the Equity status of the production.

Professional productions are productions that employ at least one member of Actors Equity Association (MEAA). All other productions are licensed under an Amateur agreement.

Some groups we work with utilise Equity actors in certain shows but not in others. These groups are issued Amateur or Professional agreements depending on each production’s Equity status. If the Equity status of your production changes after licensing, please contact your Licensing Representative.

You can access a copy of your licensing agreement online. Log in to your account by clicking “Login” from the menu on https://origin.origintheatrical.com.au/

Click the “View Details” button next to the relevant application. Click on the “Download Licence” button.

It is strictly prohibited to advertise, market, promote, or otherwise bill any amateur production as any type of “premiere” production – including as a national, state, regional or local premier. 

Pending – your application has been successfully submitted and is awaiting approval.

In Progress – your application has been received and we have sent it to the rights owners for approval. Allow 4-6 weeks.

Outstanding – your application has been approved and now you need to take action. This includes 

• Downloading the licence agreement
• Print and sign the licence agreement
• Scan the signed licence agreement
• Upload the signed licence agreement to the portal
• Paying the invoice

Ready to Perform – you have completed all the required documentation and payments. Now you are ready to perform the show. 

BO Pending – For musicals, please return your certified statement of box office takings within seven (7) working days of your final performance along with any ticket sales reports from the venue and/or 3rd party ticket seller if one was used. Email to enquiries@originmusic.com.au. 

Finalised – once your show is complete you need to pay any outstanding invoices from the box office takings (for musicals and large productions where a percentage of the box office takings is part of the licence fee)

Declined – your licence application has been declined.

Cancelled – your licence application or show has been cancelled, this can be done by you or us.

If you can't remember the details of you application, the first place to look is in your account. Log in here https://origin.origintheatrical.com.au 

You also will have received an email when you submitted the application with the application dates. Search for ORiGiN Theatrical in your inbox.

A performance requiring legal authorisation and payment of author royalties (licensing fees) is any performance in front of an audience:

• Regardless of whether or not admission is charged;
• Whether the performance is public or private;
• Whether or not it is for charity or gain.

If an audience is present, then a licensing fee must be paid, and legal authorisation for performance must be obtained. This applies to the performance of any part of any copyrighted work as well as the whole. It applies to “readings” as well as “performances”.

Fees are different from title to title and from application to application. Please submit a license application through our website. Submitting a license application does not require upfront payment or commit you to production. If your plans are tentative, please email enquiries@originmusic.com.au to let us know it is tentative, so that we hold off on sending you the invoice.

Licensing fees based on the details of your application. Licensing fees for musicals also include the cost of renting musical materials.

Licensing fees are not charged and authorisation is not required of copyrighted materials within a classroom setting in which only the instructor of the class and those students enrolled in that specific class are present during use.

If the copyrighted material is performed in front of an audience, which does not meet the strict “classroom” definition, then a licensing fee must be paid and legal authorisation for usage must be obtained.

Yes, all performances before an audience are subject to licensing fees. 

Our definition of a performance requiring legal authorisation and payment of author royalties (licensing fees) is any performance in front of an audience:

• Regardless of whether or not admission is charged;
• Whether the performance is public or private;
• Whether it is for charity or gain.

If an audience is present, then a licensing fee must be paid, and legal authorization for performance must be obtained. This applies to the performance of any part of any copyrighted work as well as the whole. It applies to “readings” as well as “performances”.

Yes. Scripts, librettos and perusals can be ordered online with a credit card.

For licence invoices, we accept credit card payments over the phone. Otherwise by Direct Deposit/Bank Transfer. Our bank details are on the invoice. Please include the invoice number.

We do not accept purchase orders as payment for licensing agreements. If you need an invoice that lists a PO number, please include it in the application, email the Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

Please be advised that per our terms and conditions, it is the applicant’s responsibility to forward all invoices to the appropriate accounting office.

Your agreement will not be active and no element of production (including announcements, casting notices and auditions) can begin until we receive monetary funds.

You will receive a copy of your invoice to the email address you provided. If you can’t find it please check your spam folder as the email can sometimes be sent there.

If you still can’t find it, please send an email to enquiries@originmusic.com.au 

Combining a script order and performance fees onto a single purchase order may delay processing of your order as we cannot accept a purchase order as payment for a performance license.

Unfortunately, script orders and licensing cannot be combined onto a single invoice.

If you need an invoice that lists a PO number, please include it in the application, email the Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

Yes you may pay by direct debit. Our bank details can be found on your invoice. Please include the Invoice Number in the payment reference to ensure efficient processing of your materials and issuing of your licence. 

We understand each producing organization we work with is unique and has varied needs based on casting pools, audience, and location. We are committed to helping you make theatre happen in your community, while also honouring the intent of our Authors.  We often receive questions such as the following:

• Can I make changes to the script for my production?
• Can I combine two characters into one?
• Can I change the locale of the play?
• Can we edit out the “bad language”/references to smoking and drinking/any references to a deity?
• Can we change the play title?
• Can we change character names?
• Can we cast female parts with male actors (or vice versa)?
• Can we change the order of the scenes?
• Can we add a dance/song number to the show?

All of these are examples of changes that require permission from the author or their estate. As a reminder, it is a violation of Australian Copyright Law, Copyright Act 1968, to make any changes to a play or musical for the purposes of production without first obtaining written permission from the rights holder. 

To request permission to make changes to the script, please email your Licensing Representative with a detailed list of your desired changes (including the topics above) and your license request number in your correspondence. Please do not contact the Author or agent with your request directly.

If your changes are not approved by the rights holder, the play must be presented only as written in the rehearsal and performance materials provided by us without any changes, additions, alterations or deletions to the text or title. These restrictions include, without limitation, altering, updating or amending the time, locales or settings of the play in any way.

The gender of the characters shall also not be changed or altered in any way (for instance, by way of costume or physical change) unless explicitly noted in the script or your license.

Please email your Licensing Representative with your proposed changes and we will look into your request. Be sure to include the show title and producing company in your correspondence. Please be aware that not all titles are available for cuttings and additional clearances may be required. Competition requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, so even if a title has been approved for cuts before we still need to check with the Author.

If possible, list the proposed cuts in the “Anything else you want to tell us?” section of the application form. Otherwise, please email a complete list that clearly communicates your intended cuts to your Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

If you are performing a copyrighted work, in whole or in part, at a festival or a competition, you are required to obtain a license.

When completing the application form, please include the name of the competition or festival and which excerpt you would like to use in the comments section at the end.

The more information we have, the better we can represent your needs to our authors and their agents.

Approval is not guaranteed and it may take several weeks to receive a final answer.

Per the Copyright Act 1968, no part of the book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. Scripts should be purchased via www.origintheatrical.com.au.

Script Order Processing
We make every effort to ship orders as quickly as possible. If you have placed an order for scripts we will process your order within 2 business days. Please be aware that during peak ordering seasons processing times may be longer. 

Tracking
Once your order is shipped you will receive a tracking notification via email.

We use different methods of shipping and carriers depending on where the order is going.

Expected Shipping Times

Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra & Melbourne:  3-5 business days

Other locations in Australia:  Allow up to 10 days 

New Zealand:  Allow up to 2 weeks (subject to change)

Sales are final on all purchased scripts and materials. We do not accept returns.

If you would like an advance look at the score for a musical, you can do so by ordering a Perusal on the show page for the title you’re interested in. Click on “Available Materials” and you can order it online. If a digital perusal is available, you will be sent a pdf via email from one of our team. Please note a Perusal is not a complete score. The only way to obtain a full score is to be producing the musical, have paid your contract in full, and be in your rental period.

 Some musicals only have Digital Perusals available; others only have physical Perusals. It varies by title and it is the decision of the copyright owner as to which format is made available. 

When applying for a license you can choose a delivery date for your music materials during the application. Once your signed license agreement is received and invoice is paid in full your materials will be scheduled to arrive on that date, but you can also request that they be sent earlier by contacting your Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

Materials will not be shipped unless the signed licence agreement has been received by your Licensing Representative and all fees have been paid in full.

If your scheduled delivery date has already passed when your license is paid, your music materials will be sent as soon as possible. 

Do I have to return my materials? Yes. All musical materials must be returned at the end of your production. 

With the exception of some of our school edition titles, Theatrical Rights Worldwide and Digital Materials.  

Please refer to your license if you are not sure if your materials need to be returned.

No marks are to be made on the material except in light pencil, which MUST be erased prior to its return. Cleaning charges (minimum A$25.00) and/or replacement materials of minimum A$55.00/book will be charged in the final invoice.

All material MUST be returned within 7 working days of the final performance date or additional hire fees will accrue. 

Please return the materials to:

ORIGIN THEATRICAL

Ground floor, 47-49 Murray Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009 Australia

Additional charges will be incurred for materials returned to the wrong address.

If your materials are not timely returned, your organization will be put on hold and all future license applications will be suspended.

If Logo Packs and Poster Images are available for purchase, it will be listed under “Available Materials” on that title’s show page on the “Materials” page of the application form.

Oftentimes, the artwork used on the cover of our publication is in the Logo Pack. If no Logo Pack is available for that title, you should create your own artwork. If you’re unsure if the book cover artwork can be used for your production’s advertising, please contact your Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au. 

Subplot studio https://www.subplotstudio.com/

Offers customisable theatre posters of licence compliant artwork.

The terms of the licence agreement outline the requirements for advertising and the correct billing must be followed. Please forward copies of all artwork to enquiries@originmusic.com.au for approval prior to printing.

Licensees must ensure that it will not, and will not permit any person to, create artwork for their production with any generative artificial intelligence system or technology, including without limitation ChatGPT, DALL-E, Imagen or Midjourney.

Do not advertise auditions until you have a signed licence agreement.

If you need to make changes to your production dates or to cancel your production, please notify us in writing as soon as possible via email at enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

Purchases of scripts/librettos/acting editions are non-refundable. If you are producing a musical and your music materials have not shipped, a refund may be issued. No refund of materials fees is available in connection with music materials that have already shipped.

If you are cancelling your entire production you must notify us in writing before the first performance date noted in your agreement. If you realise in the middle of your run that you need to cancel one or more performances, you must notify us in writing within 24 hours of the cancelled performance. 

Yes. If you need to make changes to your production dates or to cancel your production, please notify us in writing as soon as possible via email at enquiries@originmusic.com.au.

Purchases of scripts/librettos/acting editions are non-refundable. If you are producing a musical and your music materials have not shipped, a refund may be issued. No refund of materials fees is available in connection with music materials that have already shipped.

If you are cancelling your entire production you must notify us in writing before the first performance date noted in your agreement. If you realise in the middle of your run that you need to cancel one or more performances, you must notify us in writing within 24 hours of the cancelled performance. 

To request any change or modification to your license, please email enquiries@originmusic.com.au

Please note that any changes may require additional clearance and approval is not guaranteed. Changes to the number of performances, venue, or ticket prices may change the total licensing fees due.

If your request is approved, your representative will issue a new performance agreement and invoices.

First, you should check to make sure you have entered the correct email and password. If you think that the password is correct and the email is incorrect, then you may have signed up with a different email address.

If you think that the email is correct and the password is coming up as invalid, please click the “Forgot password?” link.

If you do not receive an email with a new password in your inbox, please check your spam folder as the email can sometimes be sent there.

If you still are having problems, please send an email to enquiries@originmusic.com.au 

If your Venue Address isn't saving properly, here are some things you can try which should fix the issue:

1. Ensure that when you enter the Venue Address that you press ‘Save Venue’ before pressing ‘Continue’.
2. Ensure that when you type in the address that you select the address that appears in the drop down list.
3. You can try typing the name of the venue in the address section and if the address appears in the list, then select that address.
4. If it still won’t save then you can try clearing your browser cache and history. Alternatively try a different browser. If you are using Chrome, try using Edge, Safari or Firefox.

This should fix the issue. If you are still experiencing the error message, please email us at enquiries@originmusic.com.au

In most cases the license agreement strictly prohibits any form of recording, broadcasting, streaming, or communication of the production—whether audio, video, or by any other means—without explicit authorization. This includes any kind of recording format, such as cassette, CD, computer files, or digital streaming. Additionally, you are required to actively prevent any such recordings and to display a clear warning in the program and at the venue stating that recording or streaming is strictly prohibited and may violate copyright law.

Some shows include or offer a Video Archival License for a fee. This allows you to record one performance for your internal archives only. This archival copy can be distributed to your cast and crew. The archival recording cannot be distributed or posted online. Archival License availability varies by title and all requests must be approved in the Licence Agreement.

We understand each producing organisation we work with is unique and has varied needs based on casting pools, audience, and location. We are committed to helping you make theatre happen in your community, while also honouring the intent of our Authors. We often receive questions such as the following:

• Can I videotape my production?
• Can I post short clips of the show on my theatre’s website?
• Can I make an archival recording of a performance?

Written permission must be obtained for all recording requests, regardless of the purpose or reason for the proposed recording. Some titles do offer video permissions in the license application.

If you do not see that option for the title you are applying for, and your license does not include permission to create and/or distribute a video recording, then you must secure separate written permission from us. Requests for video permission must be submitted in writing. Please email your Licensing Representative or enquiries@originmusic.com.au with your request and include the show title and production company name in all correspondence. 

Please be aware that additional fees may apply and that not all titles are available for audio or audio/video recordings.

Unfortunately, virtual/online, streaming and video rights aren’t available for most shows. The rights are not held or controlled by Origin Theatrical, and we will have to send your proposal to the author’s representatives for approval on a case-by-case basis. We understand that many of these requests will be time-sensitive, and we will do our best to assist. There is absolutely no guarantee of this permission being granted.

Unfortunately, virtual/online, streaming and video rights aren’t for most shows. The rights are not held or controlled by Origin Theatrical, and we will have to send your proposal to the author’s representatives for approval on a case-by-case basis. We understand that many of these requests will be time-sensitive, and we will do our best to assist. There is absolutely no guarantee of this permission being granted.

Your ‘return by’ date is listed on your dispatch sheet. Unless otherwise agreed upon with Origin, ensembles have 2 weeks post-performance to return materials. This period is not included in your hire fee.

All markings should be made in light lead pencil for ease of erasure. Bow markings, light fingering and instrument cues can be left in to help future ensembles. Any unnecessary or irrelevant material should be erased, as well as excessive markings such as note names and expressive notes specific to your performance.

Cuts should be erased and pages unfolded.

We do not have the capacity to clean every returned set in our library – to ensure that materials remain high quality and last, please be respectful of the musicians who will be hiring after you.

While we check and replace sets where possible, our materials are regularly rented out and thus show signs of use. If you are unhappy with the condition of materials, contact enquiries@originmusic.com.au to discuss their replacement. International shipping of replacement sets is covered by the hiring ensemble.

Hiring ensembles will cover international shipping where required, for new or out of stock sets. ORiGiN will always inform ensembles when international shipping is required, and shipping quotes are available upon request.

PDF scores are not available. You can access the digital materials for most of our publishers via Newzik. Hire fees are as normal, without shipping.

An opera, choral work, musical or ballet staged in either its full context or in a concert setting requires a Grand Rights Royalty and permission from the rights holders, if the performed material exceeds 20 minutes.

This fee is applicable for professional, community and school ensembles.

You can order materials via the rental form on the Classical Page of our website, via Zinfonia, or by email: enquiries@originmusic.com.au