Theatres Act 1968

18 Interpretation

(1) In this Act—

• " licensing authority " means—

  (a)

  as respects premises in Greater London, the Greater London Council;

  (b)

  as respects premises in a county or county borough in England and Wales, the council of that county or borough;

  (c)

  in relation to Scotland, as respects premises situated in a burgh, the council of that burgh, and in any other case, the council of the county in which the premises are situated;

• " play " means—

  (a)

  any dramatic piece, whether involving improvisation or not, which is given wholly or in part by one or more persons actually present and performing and in which the whole or a major proportion of what is done by the person or persons performing, whether by way of speech, singing or action, involves the playing of a role ; and

  (b)

  any ballet given wholly or in part by one or more persons actually present and performing, whether or not it falls within paragraph (a) of this definition;

• " police officer " means a member, or in Scotland a constable, of a police force ;

• " premises " includes any place ;

• " public performance " includes any performance in a public place within the meaning of the [1936 c. 6 (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6.).] Public Order Act 1936 and any performance which the public or any section thereof are permitted to attend, whether on payment or otherwise;

• " script " has the meaning assigned by section 9(2) of this Act.

(2) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) a person shall not be treated as presenting a performance of a play by reason only of his taking part therein as a performer;

(b) a person taking part as a performer in a performance of a play directed by another person shall be treated as a person who directed the performance if without reasonable excuse he performs otherwise than in accordance with that person's direction; and

(c) a person shall be taken to have directed a performance of a play given under his direction notwithstanding that he was not present during the performance ;

and a person shall not be treated as aiding or abetting the commission of an offence under section 2, 5 or 6 of this Act in respect of a performance of a play by reason only of his taking part in that performance as a performer.