Replica productions – teatralne kopiuj-wklej?

Abstract

The article discusses the phenomenon of replica productions of original productions in musical theatre. The author describes the rules operative in licensing musical titles of non-replica type, i.e., most of the productions in Polish musical theatre. The agreements between theatres and agencies managing copyrights for musicals usually require preserving the original text and music, but grant freedom in matters concerned with staging, though in certain cases the agencies also reserve the right to control other aspects of the production and its promotional framework. Then, the author describes the phenomenon of replica productions itself, i.e. their appearance in the world’s greatest musical centers with staging resembling the original productions, most frequently prepared by the same team as responsible for the latter. The final part of the text discusses cases of interference of musical agencies in non-replica staging which reinterpret the message of the original works.