Screamline

These notes apply, in the main, to those types of Scout Shows to which the general public are invited, whether paying for admission or not. It is advisable for every organiser of a Scout Show to be aware of the law and, of course, to abide by it.

Performers

The Children's (Performances) Regulations 1968 made under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 make provision for those persons under compulsory school age (16 yrs) who take part in a performance (called "children" for the purposes of this legislation).

Licences

The Scout Association and the Girl Guides Association have been granted an exemption from the licensing requirement on the understanding that conditions laid

(a) Number of Performing Days

A child 13 years of age or over may take part in performances, licensed and unlicensed, on not more than 80 days in any period of 12 months.
A child under 13 years of age may take part in performances on not more than 40 days in any period of 12 months.
Where a child, who has exhausted his/her quota of performing days, could take part in further performances without harm, then he/she may perform on four extra single days in a period of six months.

(b) Matrons down are adhered to

During the period covered by a licence, a licensed child must be in the charge of a Matron at all times when the licensed child is not in the charge of his parent or teacher.
Satisfactory arrangements must be made for the child to be accompanied home after the performance. Warranted Leaders or any other adults (male or female) approved by the organiser of the event may act as a Matron but it is suggested there be at least one Matron for every six children.

(c)Maximum Number of Performing Days in a Week

A child may not take part in a performance or a rehearsal on more than six days in any seven day period.

(d)Maximum Number and Length of Performances and Rehearsals Daily

1.  A child may not take part in a performance if the duration of the entire production, including intervals, exceeds 3/4 hours, or if the child's part, or the aggregate of the child's appearance, exceeds 2/4 hours.

2.  A child may not take part in more than one performance or rehearsal on any day when normally required to attend school, unless the child has been granted leave of absence from school either for the whole day or for the session which takes place after the midday meal.

3. A child may not take part on any day in more than one performance or rehearsal unless the child performs the same part in the performance/rehearsal except where taking the place of another performer in the same performance and the performance/rehearsal is of the same nature.

4.  Where a child takes part in two performances and/or rehearsals on the same day, there must be an interval of not less than 11   hours between the last appearance in the first performance or rehearsal and the first appearance in the second performance or rehearsal. This interval may be reduced by not less than 45 minutes on two days in any week, but when this is done the total time that the child is at the place of performance, including intervals, must not exceed six hours.

(e) Earliest and Latest Hours at Performance


No child may remain at the place of performance later than 30 minutes after the end of his/her part, or 10 pm if under 13 years of age, or 10.30 pm if 13 years of age or over, whichever is the earlier. If however the performance (but not a rehearsal) could not be given without the child remaining until later she/he may be present until 11 pm on not more than 8 evenings in any period of 4
The provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 relating to the Public Entertainment Licences are only effective once a Local Authority has resolved that they shall apply in that Authority's area. It may be that a Local Authority has not invoked powers under the 1982 Act because it already has satisfactory control through Bye-Laws. Inquiries should be made of your Local Authority before any public entertainment is organised.