WHAT: our New Comedy-Thriller Theatre Production: "This Is Not A Murder Mystery".

WHY: to help pay our actors & crew expenses. All production costs, marketing, venue et al are paid for by the production via our own investment, with ticket sales helping us to break even. Our performers and artistic team are generously donating their time to this non-profit creative endeavour and we want to give them a little bit extra.

HOW MUCH: our goal is £3000 - and will be divided pro-rata amongst our cast & other artistic collaborators. If we exceed our goal anything additional funds raised will also be shared.

CANONBIE PRODUCTIONS:​

We are a self-funded husband & wife team and we make things. Arty things. We have produced a successful narrative podcast, a soon-to-be-released feature film, several web series’; and we are now staging our third original theatrical production.

Since 2017 we have built a loyal and hugely talented ensemble of creatives: actors, lighting & sound designers, a fully-functioning film crew, social media experts, graphic designers, photographers, a premiere PR man, as well as many artistic associates & assistants.

We are hugely proud of the work we have created to date and have been blessed with contributions from some truly legendary members of our profession.

We work tirelessly to produce work that aims to entertain, enlighten and raise the spirits of all who witness it. Art is powerful. Art is Vital. And, Art Is Expensive.

The Drayton Arms is a BRILLIANT and supportive venue – the rental fees are highly competitive and the support we receive from Audrey, the Drayton’s Artistic Director, is second to none.

However – even at full capacity few fringe theatre productions allow the producers to do much more than break even. Production costs include rehearsal space; costume; advertising & marketing; catering; set and prop requirements; transport; ticketing; insurance & rights; as well as certain fixed technical costs; these financial obligations are partly met by the revenue we receive in ticket sales.

Our artists recognise the value of performing for the sake of performing, sharing works they believe in with kind and appreciative audiences. They often dedicate their talents, training and expertly-honed skills for the sake of art itself. No one goes into the acting or creative world expecting to make their fortune – alas.

As a producing house we are thrilled to work with a committed ensemble of talent, and it is hugely gratifying that these brilliant creative souls choose to repeatedly share their talents with us for very little in the way of financial remuneration.

So – this time we’re asking for your help. We know times are tough and we would like to offer everyone who works on this production a set fee to at the very least assuage their expenses and help ease the financial burden all artists face. They deserve it.

Our goal is to continue to build our company to the point where the industry takes note. Not just of our work, of which we are very proud and which we endlessly refine, taking note of criticism and continue to expand and learn. But also of our people.

We want to showcase the enormous talents of the fiercely hard-working and incredibly talented actors and skilled creative crew through original, innovative, varied, challenging and (hopefully) highly entertaining works.

London is brimming with unknown talent. With actors who emerge and shine and affect audiences in countless ways. Our aim is to provide a platform and draw attention to the incredible artists we have been fortunate enough to discover, work with and who inspire us wildly with their unique and exciting qualities.

The more we can serve audiences with quality work performed by people who are artists to their very souls, the more attention we can gain from the industry, and the more we can persuade private individuals and corporate entities to invest in the arts. We keep going – because we must – and because we can.

But we don’t do it alone. Our creatives are our lifeblood and we’d like to reward them as best we can.

No ‘levels’ of funding or staggered perks – not that these aren’t wonderful in some cases – just your name in the programme whatever the donation with a warm and deeply heartfelt thank you.

Obviously if we can publicise your own work – shows, films, courses, books, skills you have to offer – we shall. We will reserve place in the programme for anyone who asks for us to draw attention to their artistic endeavours. And if anyone has advertising or sponsorship opportunities we are also enthusiastically open to that too.

Every donation, no matter how small, counts. We would be delighted if you could forgo a coffee or an avocado and drop us a kind contribution.

Thank you, wholeheartedly.

Peter Rae & Helen Bang

CANONBIE PRODUCTIONS