The relationship between copyright law and works of theatre poses interesting legal and social questions. Given the derivative nature of some productions, what does it mean for one to ‘own’ a piece of theatrical work? How does copyright law interact with the peculiar ways art is produced? In this episode of the Ratio podcast, Professor Gerry Simpson sits down with Dr Luke McDonagh to analyse the relationship between legal norms that undergird copyright law and ‘theatrical conventions’ that govern how playwrights view themselves and their peers within the world of theatre. Theatrical practice is often guided by social norms that operate as an alternative to employing the law in resolving copyright disputes. What do these informal means of justice indicate about the limitations of litigation and contractual relationships in theatre and the arts more broadly?  

This episode was produced by Mohid Malik.

Speakers: Gerry Simpson and Luke McDonagh

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