Beginners Call
A free check for panto, am-dram, dance schools and youth theatre putting children on stage in England, Wales and Scotland. Put in your show dates and each child’s other shows, and it counts the 4-day rule day by day, says who needs a child performance licence, and gives the date to apply by. It runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
The 4-day rule, by date
A rolling 6-month count for each child across all their shows, with the first day a licence is needed and when they’re free again.
Pay, school and BOPA
Paid children and term-time absences need a licence; school shows and BOPAs don’t. It asks, and says why.
Council by council
Notice periods, exemption forms and links for 30 of the largest councils, from each council’s own page.
Stage-door sheets
A sign-in register, a daily performance record and a chaperone rota capped at 12, filled in with your cast.
Getting started
- Open beginnerscall.onibaku.co.uk and enter your first and last performance dates.
- Answer the five questions about the show, then add each child and the days they performed in other shows.
- Read the result, follow your council’s link, and print the sheets for your stage door.
Pricing
Free. There’s an optional email list for a fuller kit if enough people want one.
Privacy and terms
See the Beginners Call section of our privacy policy and terms. Beginners Call is an information tool, not legal advice, and isn’t connected with any council or the Department for Education.