How to Produce a West End Show

"If only I had read this book when I was producing plays, I wouldn't have lost all that money. This is the producer's Bible - complete with Ten Commandments and Revelations" - Gyles Brandreth How to Produce A West End Show demystifies the working world of live theatre. This is an insider account that maps an entry route into the industry and examines the challenges faced by West End producers. How to budget and finance a show How to assemble a cast and creative team How to work with writers, directors and designers How to book a West End theatre and a pre-West End tour How to advertise and market your show Julius Green shares the experience he’s gained as one of the UK’s most prolific theatre producers to illuminate the glamorous, gritty process of putting on a West End show. "An exceptionally well-written, drily inflected and amusing book… full of useful words of wisdom." - Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com "An excellent book which does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a warts-and-all description of how West End productions get to the stage while at the same time being extremely readable. It even manages to make the complexities of VAT interesting." - AK Bennett-Hunter, Sightline "It really is a good read and is well worth a look for anyone who wants to work in theatre, not just aspiring producers." - Alistair Smith, The Stage

About the Author :
Dr. Julius Green has over 150 plays and musicals to his credit (in the West End, on tour and on the Fringe) as an independent theatre producer and a further 100 (in the West End, on tour and on Broadway) as Senior Producer for Bill Kenwright Limited. He has served on the Board of Management of the Society of London Theatre and the Board of Directors of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and is a Director of the Academy of Circus Arts. Julius is an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Arts and Humanities at Birkbeck College, University of London, where he teaches on the MA course in Creative Producing, and is a guest lecturer for the MA course in Creative Producing at Central School of Speech and Drama. He taught the Arts Administration module of the Leisure and Tourism BA at the University of North London and lectures on theatre producing for the Theatre Royal Haymarket's Masterclass series. He has contributed articles to Theatre Magazine and The Stage newspaper

Review :
If only I had read this book when I was producing plays, I wouldn't have lost all that money. This is the producer's Bible - complete with Ten Commandments and Revelations An exceptionally well-written, drily inflected and amusing book ... full of useful words of wisdom ... a valuable addition to the confessional memoirs of his fellow cigar-suckers Will become a bible to those with even a fleeting interest in producing ... What Green doesn't know in his 25 plus years as a theatre producer isn't worth knowing ... a must for anyone working in the theatre, not just producing Whether you want to become a West End producer, try your hand in Edinburgh or a fringe venue or just wish to learn a great deal more about life in the theatre today, this book comes strongly recommended To cover all the many possibilities in a readable form might seem an impossible task, but it is a task that Green achieves with honesty, good humour and wit A distillation of knowledge acquired from many years of practical experience, levelled with a laconic wit plus the odd anecdote or five from the sharp end of the business an excellent background in industry practice and terminology ... Producing outside the West End, with other producers and even Broadway are touched on, making it even more comprehensive ... very readable highly recommended