Sponsorship Enquiries c/o
Virgin Management Limited,
120, Campden Hill Road.
London,
W8 7AR

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Stephen Makin; I am Co-Director of a Birmingham based student theatre company called Three Bugs Theatre. Three Bugs provides a unique opportunity to Birmingham university students: the chance to perform at the international fringe theatre festival in Edinburgh. Three Bugs is dedicated to presenting new and exciting theatre at the fringe. The plays we present are written, directed and performed entirely by Birmingham students. Operation of the technical equipment, stage management, organisation of publicity, production management, costume, design and press liaison are also dealt with by the students. Students alone deal with every aspect of production from the first conception of the play to the final bow.

Three Bugs has generated a lot of interest in the local student population, for many different reasons. Some get involved because they wish to peruse careers in the theatre or performing arts, for which such a project arms them with invaluable practical experience. Others participate because they want to expand their range of activities with the university – it is a great way to meet new people, learn about the theatre, not simply in terms of performance, but also the organisational skills associated with production, and it looks great on a CV! Many more are interested because there is no event quite like the Edinburgh fringe festival, where for three weeks each august, Edinburgh is transformed into a buzzing capital of performance art. There are countless opportunities for visitors to see new and exiting avant-garde theatre, as well as traditional theatre performed by the world’s most famous theatre companies. There’s live music from all over the world, together with comedy and dance. It is little wonder that it attracts so much interest. I can vouch from personal experience that there is nothing quite like it. On top of all this Three Bugs offers the opportunity of not just visiting but performing at this most prestigious of arts festivals.

One of the main problems Three Bugs faces in producing a show on the fringe is finding funding for our projects. Our company members have limited time for fundraising, not only because of the huge amounts of time needed in organisation and rehearsal of the production but also in perusing their studies in their degree programs. Little time is available for part time work or organisation of fundraising events. Although some company members to take on jobs and some fundraising events are staged, we rely heavily on sponsorship for the money needed to stage a show.

Although we are proficient at finding ways of producing on a shoe-string we estimate that this year’s show ‘Skin’ will need in excess of £5000 to make it to Scotland. Money is needed to pay for fringe participation fees, venue costs, transport, food, rehearsal space, show costs such as set or costumes and accommodation. All this before the single most sizable chunk is taken into account – publicity. There are hundreds of shows on the fringe each year and so a well-funded publicity program goes a long way towards getting the show noticed. There are many stories or remarkable shows getting almost no audience because of poor publicity.

Naturally we are not asking for £5000 but we would be most grateful for any help you could give us! A donation of £1700 pounds covers accommodation for the company, while a few hundred will put us well on our way to funding our participation fees. We would be extremely grateful for any help you could offer us. 

If you have any further questions about our work, the show, or require further information in this year’s show, please do not hesitate to contact me as above.

Yours Sincerely,

Stephen Makin. Co-Director, Three Bugs Theatre.