TERMS & CONDITIONS | The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company Terms & Conditions

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES & WEATHER

Many of our performances take place outdoors. Weather and temperature are an inherent part of attending an outdoor performance and may affect the experience.

We make every reasonable effort to complete each performance, and performances will normally continue in light or intermittent rain.

However, weather conditions can change quickly and we may need to delay, pause, relocate, reschedule or cancel a performance if conditions make this necessary.

How will I know if a performance is cancelled?

If we cancel a performance, we will email all ticket holders directly using the email address supplied when booking.

We usually aim to notify ticket holders by 4.00pm on the day of the performance, although this cannot be guaranteed. Weather conditions and forecasts can change quickly, so we reserve the right to make a decision to cancel at any time up to the scheduled start of the performance. In some circumstances, a cancellation email may therefore be sent later than 4.00pm.

Unless you have received an email directly from The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company confirming that a performance has been cancelled or changed, please assume that it is going ahead as scheduled.

We will also do our best to publicise any cancellation on our website and official social media channels as soon as we can.

Please do not rely on information from search engines, AI-generated search results or summaries, third-party websites, or social media posts or comments that have not been published directly by The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company as confirmation that a performance has been cancelled.

We cannot accept responsibility if a ticket holder decides not to attend a performance on the basis of incorrect cancellation information obtained from an unofficial third-party source.

What happens if we cancel a performance?

If we cancel a performance before it has started, ticket holders may request a refund or transfer their tickets free of charge to another performance of the same production during the current season, subject to availability.

If a performance has already started but subsequently has to be abandoned because of weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, refunds will not be given. Ticket holders may instead exchange their tickets for another performance of the same production during the current season, subject to availability.

Exchanges are subject to availability and, particularly towards the end of a tour, there may be no remaining performances with tickets available.

Because we are a small touring theatre company, each production is mounted and financed as a separate season and we cannot guarantee that a future production or season will take place. Exchanges therefore cannot be carried forward to a future production or season.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights.

1. Tickets

Tickets are valid only for the performance, date and time shown on the ticket.

Tickets and any exchanges are valid only for the current production and season and cannot be carried forward to a future production or season.

2. Email communications and mailing list

When you book tickets, we will use the email address you provide to send information relating to your booking, including your booking confirmation and important information about your performance.

We may also use your email address to send you occasional newsletters and information about The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company, our productions and forthcoming performances, unless you choose not to receive these communications when booking.

You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails.

Your decision to opt out of marketing emails will not prevent us from contacting you with information that is necessary in connection with a booking you have made, including changes, cancellations or other important information about your performance.

3. If you can no longer attend

Tickets are non-refundable if you change your mind or are unable to attend a performance.

However, if a performance is sold out and we are operating a waiting list, we may be able to offer unwanted tickets for resale to people on that waiting list.

If you are unable to attend and would like us to try to resell your tickets, please contact us using the Contact Form on our website.

We cannot guarantee that unwanted tickets will be resold. A refund will only be given if we successfully resell your ticket(s), and refunds for successfully resold tickets will be processed after the performance has taken place.

If we are unable to resell your ticket(s), no refund will be due.

4. If we cancel a performance before it starts

To request a refund or transfer, please contact us using the Contact Form on our website.

Please include your name and the performance you were booked to attend. If you would like to transfer, please tell us which alternative performance you would like to attend.

As we are a very small company and are particularly busy while touring, please allow up to 30 days for refunds to be processed.

5. If a performance has to stop after it has started

Occasionally weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control may mean that a performance has to be temporarily stopped.

Where possible, we will pause the performance and resume once it is safe and practical to do so. We reserve the right to stop and restart a performance as conditions require.

If a performance has started but subsequently has to be abandoned because of weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, refunds will not be given.

Ticket holders may instead exchange their tickets for another performance of the same production during the current season, subject to availability.

Exchanges are subject to availability and, particularly towards the end of a tour, there may be no remaining performances with tickets available.

To request an exchange, please contact us using the Contact Form on our website.

6. Venue changes and rescheduling

If circumstances mean that we are unable to perform at the advertised outdoor location, we may transfer a performance to a suitable nearby indoor or alternative venue where one is available.

We will make reasonable efforts to inform ticket holders by email of any significant change to the performance arrangements.

If a performance is transferred to a suitable nearby venue on the same date and at the same time, tickets will remain valid for the relocated performance and refunds will not be available. Ticket holders may, however, transfer their tickets free of charge to another performance of the same production during the current season, subject to availability.

If we change the date or time of a performance, existing tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance. Alternatively, ticket holders may transfer their tickets free of charge to another performance of the same production during the current season, subject to availability, or request a refund.

Please contact us using the Contact Form on our website to arrange a refund or transfer.

Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights.

7. Tickets purchased on the door

If you purchased your ticket on the door by cash or card and we subsequently cancel the performance before it has started, please contact us using the Contact Form on our website to arrange a refund or transfer.

Please tell us the venue and date of the performance and the number and type of tickets purchased.

If a performance has already started and subsequently has to be abandoned, the provisions in Section 5 apply.

8. Programmes and other optional purchases

Programmes and other optional items purchased alongside tickets are non-refundable unless faulty or we are otherwise legally required to provide a refund.

9. Travel and other expenses

We cannot reimburse travel, accommodation or other expenses incurred in connection with attending a performance that is subsequently cancelled, abandoned, relocated or rescheduled, except where we are legally required to do so.

10. Access

Ticket holders with access requirements are encouraged to contact us in advance so that we can advise on the arrangements at the particular venue.

Wheelchair users should select the wheelchair/access option during online booking where one is provided.

Many of our outdoor performances take place on village greens, private land and other temporary sites, so accessibility varies between venues. Please contact us using the Contact Form if you would like information about a particular venue before booking.

11. Seating

For our open-air performances, audience members should bring their own standard-sized camping chairs unless otherwise stated.

Large garden chairs, recliners, oversized chairs or other seating that may significantly obstruct the view of audience members sitting behind are not suitable. If your chair is considered unsuitable for its position or is causing an obstruction, we may ask you to move to another position in the audience area.

Chairs are provided for performances in our Little Big Top. We recommend bringing a cushion for additional comfort.

Seating at both open-air performances and in the Little Big Top is unnumbered and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sitting on the ground is permitted at open-air performances, although there is no dedicated ground-seating area. Audience members wishing to sit on the ground are advised to arrive early, as we cannot guarantee a suitable position with a clear view of the performance.

12. Umbrellas

Umbrellas must not be used during an open-air performance as they obstruct the view of other audience members.

Please bring suitable waterproof clothing if rain is forecast.

13. Picnics

Picnics are welcome at our open-air venues. Picnic rugs, tables and other picnic furniture must be packed away by 7.00pm so that they do not take up excessive space within the audience area. Audience members may continue eating and drinking after this time.

Picnics are not permitted inside the Little Big Top.

14. BBQs, camping stoves and naked flames

BBQs, camping stoves, candles and other naked flames are strictly prohibited on the theatre site.

This is particularly important at our outdoor venues, where dry grass and vegetation can present a significant fire risk.

15. Children

Unless otherwise stated, our productions are not made specifically for children and are primarily intended for an adult audience.

Parents and carers are responsible for deciding whether a production is suitable for the children in their care.

16. Dogs

Dogs are permitted at some, but not all, of our outdoor venues. Each venue or landowner has its own policy and some do not allow dogs on their land.

If you wish to bring a dog, please contact the venue directly before attending to check its policy.

Where dogs are permitted, they must be kept under control and must not cause a disturbance during the performance. We reserve the right to ask for a dog to be removed from the audience area if it causes a disturbance.

Dogs are not permitted inside the Little Big Top, with the exception of assistance dogs.

17. Circumstances beyond our control

We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to performance arrangements where circumstances beyond our reasonable control make this necessary. These may include severe or changing weather conditions (including extreme heat), unsafe conditions, illness, venue problems or other circumstances that could not reasonably have been avoided.

Where possible, we will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and will communicate significant changes to ticket holders by email.