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A team from the University of Sheffield is working with the British Library in an attempt to complete the Library?s archive of theatre scripts. The 1968 Theatres Act requires that every play performed in a licensed venue in Britain must be submitted to the British Library. However, many companies and playwrights have failed to submit scripts and the researchers are attempting to bolster the archive.
Under the terms of the Act, a £5 fine may be imposed on those who fail to submit a copy of the script but as Professor Dominic Shellard, who is managing the project, explains, ?£5 isn?t much of an incentive. In addition, it isn?t clear who exactly is responsible for submitting the scripts, so it often doesn?t happen? The aim of the project is to encourage people to submit their scripts, old and new, to the archive. They obviously won?t be fined, but they will be preserving and conserving the work for future generations.?