| Administrative History | The Open Air Theatre was administered by the Ministry of Public Building and Works [created 1962] until this was absorbed into the Department of the Environment [DoE] in November 1970, with overall responsibility for the Royal Parks. The licence to operate the Open Air Theatre was first granted to the newly formed New Shakespeare Company by the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1963, for which the Ministry received rent towards the up-keep of the theatre. Throughout the early 1960s the licence was granted on a yearly basis. In 1968 the Department of the Environment granted a 10-year licence to the Company. There were delays in finalising a new licence until 1984, when new clauses were included stating the DoE's responsibility for provision, maintenance and upkeep of buildings on the site. Additions were made to the licence in 1989 concerning yearly rent, which agreed 5% of Box Office receipts and an annual guarantee to the DoE. |