The art of producing – learnings from Mark Puddle

Mark Puddle is a well-known producer of performing arts in London. I met Mark through my British Council, London connections (in 2011) and also is the winner of the Young Creative Entrepreneur network, UK.

Mark & I spoke in length about the business of Producing profitable performing arts shows and shared the experience of both worlds. There is a lot to learn from the evolving performing arts markets such as the UK and this is what I heard from Mark.

Individual commercial productions such as Mark’s are carefully chosen and funded on a large scale (almost like Bollywood movie production in India) and then organize tours of the show throughout the UK. The capital for producing such expensive commercial shows are generally raised through individual equity holders who contribute investments against the share of profit percentage. It’s then the producer’s skill to put together the entire team and crew that forms this massive production. The producer then sources script, cast, director, stage crew that may be viable for commercial production and then releases them in at least 20 cities throughout the UK. Once the production is ready to go live then it’s marketed to some of the best theatres to convince them to host the show. Theatres are very influential stake-holders in hosting the show since they bring the audience to the show, unlike in India where theatre just provide the hall for rent and the entire tickets sales have to be marketed by the producer themselves.

Some of Mark Puddle Group’s successful brands are:
* The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a critically acclaimed international touring company
* West-end Stage, the largest and most prestigious theatre summer school in Europe
* Broadway Stage, the North American equivalent of West-end Stage