Why We Don’t Charge Royalties – A Message from Blue Dasher Press

From a recent production of
The Bray of The Belles

At Blue Dasher Press, we believe that theatre should be accessible to everyone. It’s as simple as that. The joy, the impact, and the stories that theatre brings to life shouldn’t be gated by high production costs or steep licensing fees. That’s why we’ve made the conscious decision to not charge royalties for the works we publish. We want artists, directors, and theatre companies, no matter their size or budget, to have the opportunity to produce and share meaningful stories with their communities.

Our co-founder, Wren Valentino, has written more than seventy stage plays, which have been performed in twelve countries and in three languages. Wren’s vision is clear—he wants theatre to be a tool for expression, a means of connecting people across cultures and backgrounds, and a space where everyone can find themselves in the characters and stories presented on stage. It’s a mission that we wholeheartedly embrace at Blue Dasher Press.

To further that commitment, we’ve made our entire catalogue of stage plays available in printable PDFs at a pay-what-you-want rate. We trust that those who find value in these works will contribute what they can, whether that’s a few dollars, a lot more, or simply nothing at all. The key is accessibility, and we believe that if we make the work available in a way that’s open and flexible, we can help ensure that anyone who wants to create can do so without financial barriers standing in their way.

From a recent production of
Just Before the Drop

Theatre is for everyone. Whether you’re a student putting on your first production, a professional company looking for a fresh voice, or a community theatre group putting on a show for the joy of it, we want our plays to be available to you. By removing the financial hurdles often associated with licensing and royalty payments, we hope to empower artists to take these scripts and bring them to life in whatever way speaks to their audience.

We know that when theatre is made accessible, it has the potential to do incredible things. It can provoke thought, stir emotions, and even change lives. And at Blue Dasher Press, we’re proud to contribute to that mission, one play at a time.

From the Australia premiere of
Somebody's Baby

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We can’t wait to see where these plays will go next, and we hope you’ll join us in making theatre a little bit more accessible, one production at a time.

— The Team at Blue Dasher Press