Non-Student Applications

We aim to programme seasons that are diverse, entertaining and exciting.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Photo by Paul Ashley)

We want to provide a range of opportunities as well as host the highest quality non-professional work in Cambridge and the local area.

We welcome applications from all, regardless of experience; however, we are committed to prioritising amateur works by local community groups.

We do not commission productions in-house and are led by the applications we receive. The ADC Theatre is committed to supporting the production of outstanding amateur and community theatre. As such we are often unable to accommodate professional touring shows within our programming. Our hires typically run for a week of performances Tuesday through Saturday with time for a get-in and technical rehearsals on the Sunday and Monday.

Non-Student Application Form

Information

Seasons

We programme Autumn, Spring and Summer Seasons. The seasons are ten to twelve weeks long and are based around University of Cambridge terms. During student term time we only commission Cambridge student productions. More information about the student application process can be found here.

Applications

We accept non-student applications throughout the year and programme shows during fixed application windows, typically no more than one year in advance.

Applications for shows at the Corpus Playroom in the following weeks are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis:

  • w/b Sunday 19 January 2025
  • w/b Sunday 23 March 2025
  • w/b Sunday 30 March 2025
  • w/b Sunday 13 April 2025
  • w/b Sunday 27 April 2025

Summer 2025

Applications for shows in Summer 2025 will be reviewed from June 2024.

Available weeks for programming at the ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom include:

  • w/b Sunday 01 June 2025 (Corpus Playroom only)
  • w/b Sunday 06 July 2025
  • w/b Sunday 13 July 2025
  • w/b Sunday 20 July 2025
  • w/b Sunday 27 July 2025

Autumn 2025

Applications for shows in Autumn 2025 will be reviewed from October 2024.

Available weeks for programming at the ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom include:

  • w/b Sunday 07 September 2025
  • w/b Sunday 14 September 2025
  • w/b Sunday 21 September 2025
  • w/b Sunday 28 September 2025

Winter 2025/26

Applications for shows in Winter 2025/26 will be reviewed from January 2025.

Available weeks for programming at the ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom include:

  • w/b Sunday 07 December 2025
  • w/b Sunday 14 December 2025
  • w/b Sunday 11 January 2026

Spring 2026

Applications for shows in Spring 2026 will be reviewed from April 2025.

Available weeks for programming at the ADC Theatre and Corpus Playroom include:

  • w/b Sunday 22 March 2026 (Corpus Playroom only)
  • w/b Sunday 29 March 2026
  • w/b Sunday 12 April 2026
  • w/b Sunday 19 April 2026
  • w/b Sunday 26 April 2026

Venues

The ADC Theatre auditorium has a capacity of 228 and usually hosts two shows a night during University Term, at 7.45pm and 11.00pm. Outside of University Term we typically only programme one performance per evening at 7.45pm, with some productions opting to add a 2.30pm matinee performance on the Saturday afternoon. The Larkum Studio (capacity 40) and ADC Bar (capacity 50) can also be used for performances. We also programme shows at the Corpus Playroom (capacity 80).

Hire Arrangements

We typically programme productions in one-week slots at each of our venues, offering the Sunday to Tuesday for the get-in and technical/dress rehearsals, performances Tuesday through Saturday evening, and a get-out on the Saturday night following the performance. We are often unable to accommodate single day hires although our programming is always based upon the applications we receive.

All of our hires operate on a dry-hire basis and community groups or production companies are expected to provide their own competent technical team who can be trained on in-house safety procedures if necessary. For local amateur productions, The Penguin Club offer the opportunity for technical vacancies to be advertised to local community volunteers. You can enquire via their website here.

Both venues are well-equipped with sound and lighting equipment as well as some stock furniture and set pieces. We do not have an on-site costume or prop facility. You can review each venue's technical specification here.

Our Hires are expected to comply with our Health and Safety Policy. More information about the production process can be found in our Production Handbook here.

Hire Charges

Our venues are normally hired on a box office split, with an additional box office commission. Our current venue hire charge is 37% of gross ticket sales (with a minimum hire of £300 per performance for the ADC Theatre and £80 per performance for the Corpus Playroom), and our box office commission charge is 9% of gross ticket sales. Both figures are subject to VAT.

Important Considerations

We are very unlikely to programme a show which has been on at the ADC Theatre or Corpus Playroom already in the last 5 years. Please check camdram.net for information on when shows have last been put on. If you are concerned about whether a show has been recently performed, please email us.

Please note that applications for the following shows will not be accepted as the ADC has upcoming productions already programmed:

  • A Christmas Carol (all adaptations)
  • The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
  • Amelie by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messe and Nathan Tysen
  • The Watsons by Laura Wade
  • Pippin by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O Hirson

The rights-holders of most plays and musicals require you to purchase performing rights before a production can be staged. Most rights for shows are held by the following three companies:

If you are looking at a show that is not held by one of these rightsholders, then you must check elsewhere whether amateur performance rights are available. If you are unsure whether the rights to your show are available, or if you have any questions, please get in touch here.

Please note that many rights agreements do not permit changes to be made to the show's script, period, setting, or characters (including their gender). If you wish to change these aspects within your production you will need to get in touch with the rightsholders in advance to see if this is possible. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Theatre Manager.

Marketing

On the application form you will be asked to answer a number of questions pertaining to the marketing and web listing of your show were it to be programmed, including a marketing blurb, image, content notices and age suitability. When determining an age recommendation for your show, you should consider the following matrix:

Does your show contain?

All Ages
  • Infrequent mild, bad language;
  • Mild sexual behaviour (e.g. kissing);
  • Brief unsettling sequences;
  • Mild violence (depending on context).
8+
  • Potentially dangerous behaviour;
  • Mild discriminatory language or behaviour (provided such language or behaviour is disapproved of);
  • Mild references to drug use/misuse;
  • Mild, bad language;
  • Non-sexual, partial nudity;
  • Mild sexual references or innuendo;
  • Infrequent and discreet implications of sexual activity;
  • Brief moments of threat or horror;
  • Non-detailed moderate violence justified by historical/comedic context.
12+
  • Infrequent drug misuse;
  • Moderate bad language;
  • Brief nudity;
  • Moderate sexual references;
  • Moderate threat and/or horror;
  • Moderate violence.
16+
  • Depiction of dangerous behaviour;
  • Discriminatory language or behaviour;
  • Drug or dangerous substance misuse;
  • Very strong language;
  • Non-sexual nudity;
  • References to sexual activity;
  • Masked depictions of moderate sexual activity;
  • Non-graphic or veiled depiction of sexual violence or threat;
  • Threat and/or horror;
  • Strong violence.
18+
  • Frequent/extensive very strong language;
  • Detailed portrayal of violence, dangerous behaviour or illegal/immoral activity, especially when such behaviour is portrayed as pleasurable/sadistic;
  • Endorsement of discrimination;
  • Graphic depicted sexual activity or sexual nudity;
  • Graphic depiction of sexual violence or threat;
  • A performance which may encourage or motivate the consumption of alcohol by audience members (e.g. late-night comedy).

For clarification on any of the above, please speak to the Production Manager.

Questions

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact applications@adctheatre.com

Please note that we are unlikely to programme shows which have already been staged at the ADC Theatre or Corpus Playroom in the last five years. You can view a full history of shows across our venues on Camdram.