GB2097266A - A theatrical board game - Google Patents

Abstract

Players buy plays and run them, establish theatrical companies and purchase shares in the Globe Theatre represented on a board by an octagonal structure divided into eight wings. Each wing contains six playing spaces marked with the name of a play and its purchase price or other instructions and spaces identifying the periods for which a play may be run. Players' tokens are moved clockwise round the board according to the throw of a pair of dice. Model books, book-cases, book-mark holders and money-trays are provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A board game The present application relates to a board game especially suited for 2 to 6 players.

The object of the game is to buy and run plays at a theatre e.g. the Globe Theatre, to establish Theatrical Companies; and to purchase shares in the theatre; so that the first player to obtain a one quarter share of the theatre's total shareholding-becomes the winner.

The apparatus for playing the game consists of a board, a means for holding representations of books, representations of books and bookmarks; a house tray upon which the said means stands; players trays; players bookmark holders; markers; share cards and two different sets of cards containing instructions for moves to be made in the game. Paper and coin money tokens; a purse; players' tokens and at least two dice.

The game is played according to rules hereinafter set forth.

The game is especially directed towards the establishment of theatrical companies in Elizabethen England and particularly to obtaining shares in one theatre, the Globe theatre, through the purchase and presentation of the plays of William Shakespeare.

The means for holding representations of books may be in the form of a model bookcase, the markers may be flags representative of theatre companies; the two sets of cards may be marked "to be" and "or not to be" respectively and the paper and coin money tokens may be representative of the imperial monetary system (.s.d.) or any other monetary system.

The board preferably contains a representation of an eight sided structure divided into eight segments; and each segment contains three portions parallel to a representative side of the structure at least the two outermost portions being divided into two or more spaces, the spaces in the outermost portion being representative of plays and instructions for player moves, one space representing a theatre entrance and another a stage door; the inner portions being representative of the duration of presentation of plays; the two sets of cards may be placed in the middle portion of the board.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a representation of a board on which the game is played.

Figure 2-9 are representations of individual segments of the board of Fig. 1, Figure 10 is a representation of a front elevation of a model bookcase containing books; Figure 11 is a representation of a section through the bookcase of Fig. 10 in the direction of A; Figure 12 is a representation of a model book with book marker; Figure 13 is a representation of a bookmark; Figure 14 is a representation of a "house" money tray including the bookcase of Fig. 10; Figure 15 is a representation of a players money tray Figure 16 is a representation of players bookmark holder; Figures 1 7-20 are representations of theatre flags, Figure 21 and 22 are representations of share cards; Figures 23 to 30 are representative of "to be"; "or not to be" sets of cards;; Figures 31-40 are representations of one segment of the board illustrating the purchase of theatres and shares.

Referring to the drawings: A board 1 includes a playing area comprising an octagonal structure 2 divided into eight wings 3-10 each representing a compass point and a share value (Figs. 1-9).

Each wing contains 3 rectangular elements, 3a,b,c-10a,b,c. parallel to a respective side.

The outermost element a is divided into 6 equal spaces which denote titles of specific Shakespearian plays of identified value and player instructions. (as hereinafter more fully explained).

The middle element, b, is divided in half, each half indicating the cost of running a play for 1 and 2 weeks respectively in that wing.

The innermost element c indicates the cost for running a play for one month in that wing.

Each wing has a share price; the shares being shares in the Globe theatre.

The sets of cards "to be" and "or not to be" positioned at 11 and 1 2 respectively within the playing area.

A model bookcase 20 (Figs. 10 and 11) consists of a base 21 and four shelves 22, 23, 24 and 25. A vertically sliding perspex window 26, retained in position by retainers 27 and 28 covers the front of the bookcase.

Model books 30 having an opening cover 31 contain a removable book mark 32 (Figs. 1 2 and 13) giving the name of the play and its purchase price. The shelves contain a total of thirty seven books and one first folio 33 representing a single collection of all the thirty seven model books. The spine of first folio 33 includes a reference to its purchase price 1.

In order to facilitate the handling of the model books (hereinafter referred to as Plays) they are placed on the shelves in the following order: shelf 25-tragedies; shelf 24 histories; shelf 23-comedies, and shelf 22-come- dies and romances placed either side of first folio folio 33.

Bookcase 20 is positioned in the centre of House tray 40 (Fig. 14) and together these form "The House". Tray 40 contains eight trays 41-48, four each side of bookcase 20, behind each group of trays are containers 49 and 50 for paper money (1 and 10/- denominations) and share cards. Trays 41-48 contain coin money and are coloured to denote the denominations of coins thereon as follows, trays 41 and 48 yellow-shillings; trays 42 and 47 rndsixpenny pieces; trays 43 and 46 green-pennies; and trays 44 and 45 blue-half pennies.

Each player has a money tray 52 (Fig. 15) having a paper money container 53 and coin containers 54-57 coloured as in trays 45-48 of the House tray 40.

Each player also has a bookmark holder 60 (Fig. 16) containing 3 horizontal slots 61, 62 and 63 that represent the running times of any play purchased. When a player purchases a play, as hereinafter described, the folded bookmark 32 is removed and placed in the appropriate slot in holder 60 according to the length of time that the play is to run.

Cards marked "To be" and "or not to be"; Figs. 23 and 24 are positioned on the appropriate spaces 11 and 1 2 on board 1. Each card is individually worded and relates to the character and period of the Elizabethan theatre, and in particular to the life and times of the Globe Theatre of London (built in 1599).

Instructions relevant to the cards are printed on the reverse of each card. Examples of "to be" "or not to be" cards are shown in Figs.

25-30. Some cards may have decorative designs and motifs relevant to their meaning e.g. Figs. 27, 28 and 30. Other cards include "lottery" cards, offer of free shares, and free tickets. There may be a total of 43 "to be" cards and 42 "or not to be" cards made up, for example as follows: TO BE Dice again and multiply Collect all the players sixpences for the Thames Watermans Widow fund.

Lord Stranges men gave great pleasure at Court, Shakespeare's foul papers for Othello have gone missing.

Dice again until you reach or pass the play.

First folio published. Receive royalties of 1 /- on all plays owned.

Timon of Athens Flops.

To be, Hamlet or not to be, John Hemmings and Henry Condell thank you for your support in the publication of Mr.

William Shakespeares plays.

Receive 1 and throw again.

London come at once to the Winters Tale -Lord Southampton.

Free lottery ticket. On arrival at the Great Lottery produce this ticket and enter twice for 6d.

Receive 12/-, Musicians, for each week pay 1 /-, Musicians for each week pay 6d.

Performing on the Sabbath, fined 3/3it.

Nathan Field's funeral, his last wish, go and see Macbeth, Histories published in quartos, receive royalties 1 /- each, Creple gate plague, N.E. and S.E wings closed, plays cancelled, Comedies published in quartos, receive royalties 2/- each, You are left 2 plays in the will of Nicholas Tooley, Renew theatre leases, Pay 12/-, From a bet with John Underwood receive 6/-, Free ticket, Gift to the Guild of Players, receive 1, Fined for memory lapse 3/-, Samuel Winemaker requests all players attend the Harvest Festival at the Pound Dice, William Ostlers wife inherits a fortune, receive 1 and put a 10/- gift into the purse.

Move to the Pound Dice and halve the winnings with the purse, Notice, the Kings mean will play The Merchant of Venice on May 7th in Stratford-upon Avon, All players attend, Old play stock for sale, you may buy two plays, comedies 6d, romances 1 /-, Fire, North and N.W. wings closed, plays cancelled, return players entrance fees, Boy actor falls sick, Romeo 8 Juliet cancelled, A member of the Admirals company bitten by a rat in Goldsmiths row, dice again quickly, Please find enclosed 13/- and accept our apologies Privy Council, Corrupt texts, The Merchant of Venice, Anthony s Cleopatra, The Tempest, Return these plays, collect 5d each, (Curtain Cards: four cards marked as follows) i, Curtain The Winter's Tale, 1 sot, Henry IV, Richard II, King Lear, Love's Labour's Lost, Romeo 8 Juliet, Alls Well that Ends Well, 3rd. Henry VI, Measure for Measure.

ii, Curtain 2nd. Henry IV, A Midsummers Nights Dream, Titus Andronicus, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, Cymbeline, Richard Ill, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Coriolanus, iii, Curtain. Two Gentlemen of Verona, King Lear, Alls Well that Ends Well, Henry VIII, The Tempest, Othello the Moor, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V, Much Ado about Nothing, Macbeth, iv, Curtain, Julius Ceaser, 2nd, Henry VI, The Winters Tale, A Midsummers Nights Dream, Timon of Athens, As you like it, 3rd Henry VI, The Merchant of Venice, Cymbeline.

Receive a 5/- share or dice again, Receive a 5/- share, Curtain call, for each of your plays you land on until you reach the entrance collect 5/-, Curtain call, for each of your plays you land on until you reach the entrance collect 10/-, Or not to be Ote Lane plague, West Wing closed, plays cancelled Good receipts from Provincial tours, receive 10/-, receive 5/6+d, from shares in rival playhouse, St. Tapius plague over, move anywhere, Dispute among the groundlings on the worth of Pericles, go and see the play, Renew theatre leases, Principal actor found dead in Lad Lane, Henry IV part I cancelled, Stratford 1616, "Keep my rose until you have the plague, then go at once to the entrance", A.F.

Fined for throwing apple cores at Thomas Poope 4/8d, Notice, The following plays have not been properly licensed; Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus & Cressida, Othello, The Tempest, ownership of these plays will mean fines of 5/- each by the Stationers Hall and immediate cancellations, Collect the purse, Dice twice, your next Pound Dice, Master of the Revels orders scene painting for Christmas Day, reduce your monthly comedies to 2 weeks, Dice again (move backwards), Move to the Pound Dice, Old play stock for sale, you may buy two plays, Histories 3d, Tragedies 9d, Trap Door, move anywhere when next you land, Gift from the Earl of Pembroke, 1, Pirate editions, Richard Ill, As you Like It, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, return these plays, collect 2id, each, William Shakespeare in debt, pay Shoreditch and Liberty of the Clink lodgings 7/3d, Outrageous nut cracking at the Fortune Theatre, move to the nearest arrow, Cheated at chess by William Slye, pass through nearest trap door and dice again, The Taming of the Shrew and King Lear, closed by the puritans, Free lottery ticket, on arrival at the Great Lottery produce this ticket and enter twice for 6d, Happy Christmas, go to see King John, The Queen will attend on St.Stephens Day, you may move to any of your plays to meet her Majesty, Boy actor killed in Muggle Street, all players pay the purse 5/- each, The House has offered to buy back any part of Henry VI for 1, Scenery, costumes and properties sunk in the Thames, North Wing closed, plays cancelled, Death of burbage Macbeth cancelled, Heavy losses by The Chamberlains company, collect all the shillings from the players tray, Romances published in quartos, receive royalties 4/- each, Tragedies published in quartos, receive royalties 3/- each, You found a leather purse in Sylver Street, Actor blinded in fight scene, collect 2/6d, from each player, Receive a 5/- share or dice again, Receive a 5/- share, Excess tax collection by Ferdinando Clutterbook, receive a play or 8/6d, Curtain cards; four cards marked as follows: curtain, Twelfth Night, Richard II, Hamlet, Troilus & Cressida, Anthony s Cleopatra, 1st, Henry IV, Measure for Measure, Coriolanus, ii, Curtain, Pericles, Comedy of Errors, 1st, Henry VI, Titus Andronicus, Taming of the Shrew, King John, 2nd, Henry IV, Romeo 8 Juliet, Loves Labours Lost, Richard Ill, iii, Macbeth, 1 sot Henry VI, Twelfth Night, Simon of Athens, Comedy of Errors, Henry VEIL, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Ceaser, Pericles, Much Ado about Nothing, iv, The Tempest, Henry V, Taming of the Shrew, Troilus and Cressida, As you Like It, King John, Anthony and Cleopatra, Othello the Moor, 2nd Henry Vl, Share cards, Figs. 21 and 22 have details of purchase price on the face of each card.

The cards represent shares in the Globe Theatre and each card represents one half share, there being two identical cards, respectively priced for each wing 3-10. In addition there are four share cards marked 5/- which players can only obtain through the "To Be" and "Or not to be" cards.

For the avoidance of doubt, in the Imperial Monetary system One pound (1) is the sum of 20 shillings (20 X 1 /-) and one shilling (1/-) is the sum of 12 pennies (12 X 1 d). Five shillings and two pennies, for example is denoted by 5/2d one halfpenny 1 /2d, and one pound eight shillings two and one halfpenny by 1-8s-2+d. The game may start with a total of 18X1; 15X 10/-; 40 X 1/ ; 40 x 6d; 60 x 1 d and 40 X id monetary tokens.

The black two pointed flag of Fig. 1 7 represents the establishment of the Blackfriars theatre company, the black single pointed flag of Fig. 1 8 represents the establishment of Provincial theatre companies (of which there may be eight) the white flags of Figs. 1 9 and 20 represent the establishment of Inn Yard theatres (of which there may be sixteen). At the start of the game the flags may be stored adjacent the House Tray.

As previously noted Figs. 31-40 illustrate the purchase of shares and the establishment of theatres using the South wing as an example, as hereinafter described.

Players tokens may be of any desired type, e.g. they may be coloured counters or they may be representations of Shakespearian characters.

The game is played as follows: 1) The board, is laid on the table and the two sets of cards 23 and 24 marked "To Be and "Or not to be" are shuffled and placed upon the board at 11 and 12 respectively, reading upwards "to be" "or not to be 2) The model bookcase 20 with its Plays 30 inside, complete with paper bookmarks 32, is set down in the middle of the House Tray 40 on the space provided to form "The House", (the Bank of the Globe Theatre). The perspex window 26 is removed from the bookcase 20 and put aside.

3) Each player is given a money tray 52 and a bookmark holder 60. The players tokens are set upon the board 1 on the square marked "Entrance" on the North wing (Fig. 2) 4) Each player receives at the outset of the game the sum of 4.1Os.Od. (Four pounds and Ten shillings). Players receive this sum in the following denominations: 3 X one pound notes; 2 X ten shilling notes; 6 X one shilling coins (yellow); 6 X sixpenny coins (red); 9 x one penny coins (green); and 6 x halfpenny coins (blue). All remaining money goes to the House. Paper money is placed in the container 53 at the back edge of the players trays 52. Coin money rests along the four trays 54-57 as indicated above. The House money fits into the house tray 40 in the same way as the players trays as described above.

5) To help locate the share cards (Fig. 21) during the game, they are sorted out according to their value thus: 2/6d, 5/-, 7/6d. etc.

The share cards are then placed into either of the back slots of the House tray.

6) The players may for convenience elect an official to deal with all matters relating to the House; or these duties may be shared among the players collectively.

7) The purse, which acts as a box office, is opened and placed on a corner of the board.

8) Starting from the entrance, the players dice alternately moving their tokens "clockwise" around the 48 outer divisions of the octagonal 2.

Although the entrance is marked 1 d. and the Upper gallery 2d., these sums do not have to be paid at the start of the game, and are only paid when players own Plays. Unless theatres are owned, players pay the purse id.

per play for every Play they own whenever they reach or pass the entrance, and 2d. per Play for every Play they own whenever they land on the upper gallery.

Entrance and upper gallery charges do not apply to Plays running for 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month under black Provincial theatre flags. Plays running under the Blackfriars flag are also exempt from entrance and upper gallery charges.

9) Buying Plays: The plays are set out on the board from the North wing to the N.W.

wing as follows: Histories 6d; comedies 2/-, tragedies 3/6d; romances 5/-.

As players advance around the board, they may buy Plays from the House. For example Romeo and Juliet marked 3/6d. on the south wing. Having landed on the Play, if the player decides he wishes to buy it, the Play is removed from the House, and the player pays the House 3/6d.

10) Running plays: Having bought a Play, the player must next decide for what period he wishes to run it. Plays may ONLY be run for the 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month periods on the wings where they were purchased.

The player may wish to run his Play, say Romeo and Juliet for 2 weeks, marked 3/3d.

on the South wing. To run the Play for 2 weeks, the player pays the House 3/3d.

removes the bookmark from the Play, unfolds it and slips it at an angle into the 2 weeks slot of the bookmark holder. The Play is then positioned, coverside up on the 2 weeks area of the South wing.

Players must try to avoid covering up running costs when placing Plays on the board, as these being visible make it clear to all the players what sums of money, later in the game, they may have to pay out when landing on other peoples Plays.

Plays received as gifts must be run immediately or become the property of the House.

11) Landing on other peoples plays: If a player lands on a Play owned by someone else, the running costs of the Play, for whatever period the Play is running, must be paid as follows: half to the House, and half to the owner of the Play. This applies to Plays owned by someone who has not yet established a theatre on the wing where the player has landed.

If a player lands on a Play owned by someone who has an Inn Yard theatre established on the same wing, the player pays the running costs as follows: if the Play is running for either 1 week or 2 weeks the running cost of either is paid in full to the owner of the Play; if the Play is running for 1 month half of the running costs are paid to the owner of the play and half to the House.

If a player lands on a Play owned by someone who has a Provincial theatre established on the same wing, the player pays the owner of the Play the running costs in full, for whatever period the Play is running.

If a player lands on a Play owned by someone who has the Blackfriars theatre company established on the same wing, the player pays the owner of the Play twice the running costs for whatever period the Play is running.

12) Halving Half-pennies: If a player lands on a play owned by someone else who is running the Play for 1 week, on either the North, South, East or West Wing, and the owner of the Play has not established a theatre company on the same wing, the player clearly cannot halve the half-penny shown on the running cost in those four cases, in order to pay the House and the owner of the Play.

In such cases, the running cost is rounded up to the next whole figure and halved, e.g.

1 /7it. on the south wing becomes 1 /8d, half of which is 1 Od.

13) Establishing theatrical companies and buying shares: Initially and later with Plays running for 1 month at Inn Yard theatres, Plays running on the eight wings are in performance at the Globe Theatre from which the Globe theatre receives a share of the profits.

However as players increase their playstock, they are able to establish, independently, on any of the wings, theatrical companies of their own, and thereby receive better receipts from the plays they have in performance.

The Globe theatre must see proficiency in the handling of playstock before shares are sold to the players. Skillful management of playstock is therefore necessary in order for players to buy shares from the House. However players need NOT establish theatrical companies according to~the rules for share buying. Players may also wish to become the proprietors of theatrical companies solely for financial benefit, at a point in the game, when there are monetary restraints on the running of Plays.

Shares are marked from the North wing (5/-) to the N.W. wing (2) in 5/- increases.

For each of the shares there are two halfshares purchasable from the House. Players may purchase the first half-share early on, and the second half-share later; or both half-shares together, later in the game.

Figs. 31-40 illustrate how theatrical companies are established, and shares purchased, using the South wing as an example.

A single Play on a wing runs at the Globe theatre. If a player adds a second Play to his first, as in Fig. 31 an Inn Yard theatre will be established, and the player places a white Inn Yard flag on the wing. In the state of Play illustrated in Fig. 31, the first half share of the South wing cannot be purchased from the House. To buy the first half-share the player must have at least one monthly Play running at an Inn Yard theatre e.g. as shown in Fig.

32.

A third Play added to a players existing Inn Yard theatre runs under the same Inn Yard theatre flag, Fig. 1 9 and no new theatrical enterprise is established. A fourth Play added to a players previous three plays on the wing, (there are five plays for sale, in the South wing-see Fig. 6) establishes for that player a second Inn Yard theatre and another Inn Yard theatre flag, Fig. 20, is placed on the wing (see Fig. 33). In Fig. 33 the second Inn Yard theatre does not have a monthly play running.

therefore the second half-share of the wing cannot be purchased. The second share of the wing may be purchased when the play in the South Wing is as illustrated in Fig. 34 i.e. 2 plays running for a month.

A player who buys All the Plays on the wing establishes a Provincial theatre company and a black Provincial theatre flag Fig. 1 8 is placed on the wing as shown in Fig. 35.

Blackfriars and the first folio: A player who lands on the space marked Blackfriars 2, First folio 1, on the S.E.

wing 6, may buy from the House either the Blackfriars theatre company for 2 or the First folio for 1 but NOT both. Whichever the player chooses, he must land on the space again to buy the other. A player may only buy the Blackfriars theatre company if he owns a Provincial theatre company. If a player buys Blackfriars, he removes the black Provincial theatre flag (Fig. 18) from the wing, and replaces it with the large black double pointed Blackfriars flag (Fig. 1 7) thereby establishing the Blackfriars theatre company as shown in Fig. 36. A player with a Provincial theatre company on any wing may establish the Blackfriars theatre company.

Losing Blackfriars; Should Blackfriars be closed, its owner receives 1 from the House. Once lost, Blackfriars is available for purchase to any player.

Should it be available and he lands on it, a player may at any time in the game buy the First folio for 1. The first folio can then be used to establish a Provincial theatre company on any of the eight wings (e.g. as shown in Fig. 37). if the wing is vacant or if one of his own plays are running. The first folio is a substitute for unpurchased Plays on any ONE wing.

The First folio being placed upon a vacant wing automatically represents the ownership of ALL the Plays on that wing. These first folio plays ALL run for 2 weeks only, and the player must pay the House the costs for running each of the Plays on that wing for 2 weeks. A player who has brought the first folio and places it on a vacant wing CANNOT purchase any of the shares, since none of the Plays on that wing are running monthly, although the Blackfriars theatre company may be established there later in the game as shown in Fig. 38.

The first folio may also be used to supplement a players already existing Plays on one wing only, substituting for the remaining Plays on that wing, thereby establishing a Provincial theatre company, (e.g. Fig. 39).

The proprietor of the Provincial theatre company in Fig. 39 may also buy the first halfshare of the wing, as one monthly Play is running on the wing. On a wing with two monthly Plays running, a player may purchase whatever shares are available on that wing if he adds the first folio, as in Fig. 40, where the player has proceeded to establish the Blackfriars theatre company and so complete the entire capability of the wing, always remembering that the Plays the first folio represent MUST run for 2 weeks only, and there running costs paid to the House.

Losing First Folio Plays: The first folio may be used to substitute for one Play only if the player so chooses; it may be lost on a Curtain card or elsewhere as would the Play it substitutes for, in which case it is returned to the House.

Should a player lose only some of the Plays running for 2 weeks under the first folio, the first folio is returned to the House and the remaining first folio Plays on that wing taken from the House and placed on the board to run for 2 weeks. The first folio from that point onwards is once again available to any player for 1 should he land on it and wish to buy it.

The loss of first folio plays affects the closures of theatre companies as set out in the rules.

There is NO refund for the loss of the first folio.

Players NEED NOT purchase shares at the time they establish theatre companies according to share-buying rules. They may wish to recoup their finances first, and purchase their shares later. Players MUST however return to the same wing where the theatre company has been established in order to buy the share.

14) Landing on other peoples first folio plays: If a player lands on a first folio Play being performed by a Provincial theatre company owned by someone else, he pays the owner of the Play the whole of the running cost for that Play and twice the running cost if it is being performed by the Blackfriars company.

15) Fees: To watch a play performed by a Provincial Theatre company or the Blackfriars company an entrance fee must be paid. If a player lands on or passes a Provincial theatre company owned by someone else, the player pays the purse 6d. If a player lands on or passes the Blackfriars theatre company, and he does not own it, he pays the purse 1 /-.

16) Theatre Leases: Provincial theatre companies, and the Blackfriars theatre company require the purchase of a lease from the House before they can open to the public. Failure to purchase, or renew, the lease of a theatre company results in the IMMEDIATE closure of the theatre company and the return of all its assets to the House; excluding shares.

From the closure, sale or auction of a theatrical company; the owner receives from the House the original price of purchase for the return of a Lease.

A lease cannot be purchased from another player, ONLY from the House i.e. auctions do NOT include a lease.

Should a player establish Blackfriars, the existing Provincial theatrical company lease is sold back to the House at its purchase price, and the Blackfriars lease purchased according to the half-share value of the wing.

THE TOAST-A player moves to the "Pound Dice" and toasts "To full houses" upon purchase of a Provincial theatre company lease. All players may attend the Toast following the purchase of Blackfriars lease except those with the Plague.

Inn Yard theatres do not require a lease.

17) Selling Theatrical companies: At ANY time in the game a player may sell to the House, or auction to another player one or more of his Provincial theatre companies, including the Blackfriars theatre company.

The House will pay the player HALF the total price of the playstock for ANY Provincial theatre company, which MUST include, the sale to the House of ALL shares relating to that theatrical company as these CANNOT be retained when selling theatrical companies.

Shares must be sold to the House at the time a theatre company is auctioned, and are NOT included in the auction. The new owner of a theatre company MUST pay the House the running costs of the Plays as they stand; or the playstock may be completely altered in any way, and the House paid accordingly.

Shares will be available according to share buying rules.

Should the wing that is auctioned have the first folio on it, the first folio is returned to the House and the Plays it represented separately issued to the new owner. Plays MUST BE RUN IMMEDIATELY they are aquired. Theatrical company playstock cannot be sold in part.

The playstock of Blackfriars may be sold to the House for WHAT IT IS WORTH, with an additional 1 for the return of Blackfriars. The owner also receives 1 from the House when auctioning Blackfriars. The playstock of Blackfriars acquired at an auction does NOT entitle the purchaser to establish Blackfriars unless an ADDITIONAL 2 is paid to the House at the time of the auction; otherwise, Blackfriars will once more be for sale to any player who lands on it and-owns a Provincial theatre company.

Individual plays and plays running under Inn Yard theatres CANNOT be sold or auctioned.

18) Altering Performances: Later on in the game, players may lengthen, but NOT shorten the running times of their Plays. This ONLY applies to Plays running on their own, and at Inn Yard theatres. A player MUST return once again to a Play in order to lengthen its performance e.g. a player who owns Romeo and Juliet and runs it initially for 1 week on the South wing at 1 /7+d., if the player returns to the Play, he may, if he wishes, pay the House another 1 /7+d., and run the Play for 2 weeks or move the Play up to 1 month and pay the House the 4/1old additional running costs, i.e. three more weeks at 1 /7it. per week.

Once a Provincial theatre company has been established ALL the Plays on that wing are "fixed" or "frozen" and CANNOT be altered; so players must depend on their earlier judgements as to the success of Plays running from that time. The same applies to Blackfriars. If Plays are lost later on, forcing a Provincial theatre companyror the Blackfriars theatre company to close down, the remaining Play or Plays on those wings may have their running times altered.

19) Monthly Plays: A player may NOT exceed more than six monthly Plays running in performance at any one time in the game.

20) Selling Plays: Plays CANNOT be sold either to the House or to other players.

21) Selling Shares: At ANY time in the game shares may be sold back to the House for what they are worth. Players may do this to buy more expensive shares if they wish, or to avoid bankruptcy. Shares may NOT be sold to other players.

22) Bankruptcy: If a player becomes bankrupt the House reclaims his assets. Players may NOT receive gifts of any sort from other players. Players CANNOT borrow money either from the House or from other players.

23) Players on the same wing: Players may of course, buy Plays on the same wing. If two players establish Inn Yard theatres on the same wing, they may each buy a half share according to sharebuying rules.

24) Closures: Should a player Inn Yard theatre be reduced to one Play by the loss of a Play or two Plays, that Inn Yard theatre must close down, i.e. its flag removed. This does not effect the remaining Play, nor the half share the player may have purchased when establishing the theatre, and should the player establish an Inn Yard theatre using the remaining Play, he may purchase the second half share on that wing, according to share buying rules.

The loss of one or more plays by a Provincial theatre company, or by the Blackfriars theatre company will close either theatre company down, i.e. their flags must be removed.

Proprietors shares are NOT effected by the closure. If two or more Plays remain on the wing after the closure of a Provincial theatre company, or the Blackfriars theatre company, a player may establish an Inn Yard theatre and place an Inn Yard theatre flag on the wing; or two Inn Yard theatres in the case of the N.E. and South wings, should a player lose only one Play on either wing.

25) Players landing on spaces not representing Plays follow the following rules.

(a) Stage Door: A player landing on the stage door moves directly to the entrance across the board and awaits his next turn.

Trap door: A player landing on the trap door moves directly to the opposite trap door and awaits his next turn.

(b) The Purse: Players landing on the purse receive the contents of the purse.

(c) The Plague: Players who land on the plague can only proceed with one dice until they reach or pass the entrance the plague period, where they move as normal with two dice. Players who land on the plague and proceed with one dice are not allowed to purchase plays, throw the pound dice, pick up the card marked "or not to be" or purchase shares; alter the running times of their plays or receive money from the House. However all costs incurred by a player landing on other players Plays during the plague period must be paid as normal, as well as costs for entering players theatres.

(d) The Pound Dice: Should players land here they are permitted to throw one dice only. Depending upon the fall of the dice, money may be forwarded to the player from the House as follows: If one is thrown receive 1; if two is thrown receive 2; if three receive 3 shillings, if four receive 4 shillings; if five receive 5 pence; if six receive 6 pence.

(e) The Great Lottery: Should players land here they may by paying six pence to the House throw the dice again and collect from the House their lottery winnings as follows: If "odd" dice are thrown, the high dice pays shillings, the low dice pays pennies; if "Even" dice are thrown, both dice pay pennies to the amounts shown on each. An exception to even dice is double six, where players receive shilling amounts for both dice and so win, The Great Lottery of twelve shillings.

26) TO BE, OR NOT TO BE: (1) Players who land on the spaces marked 'To Be' and 'Or not to be' pick up the cards and follow the information printed on the reverse side. Cards are then returned to the bottom of the pack. Lottery cards are kept until the lottery is played. Cards instructing players to "Receive a 5/- share' are placed in the House tray once the 5/- share card has been collected, and either returned to the bottom of the pack if such shares are sold back to the House or shuffled into the pack at the end of the game.

(ii) Curtain cards: A player who picks up a curtain card (Fig. 26) must return to the House ALL the Plays listed on the card which he owns. No payment is made for Plays returned to the House unless stated otherwise.

(iii) The Free Ticket: A player who picks up the Free ticket may travel to the entrance avoiding all costs to other players, and then return the card to the bottom of the pack.

(iv) The Hamlet card: Return this card and choose another from either set.

27) Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry VI Parts I, II and III, Each part of Henry IV and Henry VI is a separate play for sale at the House. Only One part of Henry IV and one part of Henry VI may appear on the board at any one time in the game.

28) The signs X and > : Players landing on Plays marked with an X multiply the dice on their next throw. Players landing on Plays marked > , throw normal dice and move backwards on their next throw. Players who move backwards across the entrance pay no entrance fees until they once again reach or pass the entrance moving clockwise. Entrance fees must be paid for landing on or passing other players theatres when moving backwards.

29) Doubles: When doubles are thrown, players may purchase the Play they land on, and a second Play on the same wing. Should players own the play they land on, any available Play on the same wing may be purchased. This rule applies to doubles thrown consecutively on the same wing. The doubles rule does not apply when landing on Plays owned by other players, or wings whose play stock has been sold.

Doubles do not affect the remaining spaces on the board except the entrance. Should a player throw doubles and land On the entrance, he may dice again. Should a player land on the stage door after throwing doubles he may dice again at the entrance. The rules for doubles include multiplying dice and moving backwards.

30) The winning share: The first player to obtain a 2.1 0s.0d. share or over becomes the winner of the game.

31) The following points are to be noted: 1) All Plays returned to the House are once again available for purchase.

2(a). "To be" and "or not to be" cards only apply to players who pick them up, (b) Theatre company lease renewal cards do not apply to Inn Yard theatres, (c) Musicians cards apply to the weekly rate on all Plays owned.

(d) A Player who picks up a card and finds that HE is the owner of a Play which has been cancelled or flops must return the play at once to the House.

3) Players should remember when buying Plays, that once a Play is purchased it must be run immediately the purchase is made, and not later on in the game.

Claims (7)

1. A board game wherein players are enabled to buy and run Plays at a theatre, to establish theatrical companies and to purchase shares in the said theatre, the winner being the first player to acquire a given share of the said theatres total shareholding.

2. A board game according to claim 1 wherein the winner is the first player to acquire one quarter share of the theatre's total shareholding.

3. An apparatus for playing a game according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a board, representations of books of plays, theatre share cards, theatre company tokens, two different sets of cards containing instructions to players receiving said cards, paper and coin tokens, players tokens and at least two dice, the said board having marked thereon a continuous series of geometric playing areas on which a players token may be placed each said area containing instructions enabling or requiring a player whose token is placed thereon to take a specific action, the game being played in accordance with the rules of the game herein set forth.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 including means for holding said representations of books of plays, a house money tray including space for said means, players money trays, players bookmark holders and a purse for holding money.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a representation of an octagonal structure is formed on the board to provide eight segments, a portion of each segment parallel to a side of the said structure being divided into an equal number of spaces, which spaces form the said geometric playing areas, each said space being marked with the name of a play which may be purchased by a player or an instruction to the player to make a required playing move or pay a given fee.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein further portions of each segment parallel to a side of the structure denote the period of time for which a play, purchased by a player is running.

7. A board game played according to the rules as herein set forth and with reference to the drawings.