“Wonderful project. In their radically different ways, Shuff & Byng were stars of the first magnitude - their comic genius were - and remain - unique” - SIMON CALLOW
INVESTMENT & GUARANTOR OPPORTUNITY PACK 1
FROM THE DESK OF
TON Y & MAT THE W
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Shuff & Byng BY TO NY LIDINGTON Step into a decadent world where two mid-20th century giants of drag meet the present day. An intimate review inspired by two stars of the past - a journey through drag’s history - from the elegant to the outrageous - brimming with live music, humour and heart.
AN I N VESTMENT OPPORT UN I T Y S U I TAB LE F OR ● Theatre champions and Arts Philanthropists ● Advocates for, and those interested in LGBTQ+ history ● Theatre enthusiasts seeking insider access ● Advocates for, and those interested in drag, cabaret, variety and music hall
“A great evening last night - we loved it” - John Knowles - Noel Coward Foundation Trustee
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THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY To bring Shuff & Byng to the stage, and unlock it’s full touring potential, we are seeking to raise £50,000 in a combination of upfront Investors (up to £25,000) and Under Writing Guarantors (up to £25,000). In today’s touring landscape, bringing work of this scale and quality to national audiences requires visionary private backing and public subsidy to work hand in hand. If you join us now as a founding partner your support will carry a double impact - it will help us unlock key Arts Council England support as well as enable us to green light the project.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE We offer two distinct pathways to join the project: as a low-risk investor (providing capital upfront) or as a guarantor (under writing, no cash upfront).
OPTION A: PROJECT GUARANTOR Provide vital backing without transferring upfront capital. Guarantee amount: Multiples of £5,000 Structure: As a guarantor you transfer no cash upfront. Instead you sign a formal agreement which would underwrite a portion of the projects income, up to the level of your guarantee. Capital Call Condition: Your funds would only be called upon if the total box office revenues earned by the Shuff & Byng project on the May/June 2028 tour fall below our break-even target of £50,000
WORKED EXAMPLE OF OPTION A (GUARANTOR) In this example you agree to act as a guarantor for £5,000 Upfront outlay: £0. However our formal agreement would be presented as part of our Arts Council England application to prove financial resilience. Outcome 1 In this outcome the tour meets or exceeds the target revenues earned by the Shuff & Byng project (target £50k). Your funds are NEVER called upon and no cash is ever transferred. However you would still receive the benefits on pX Outcome 2 In this outcome the tour falls short of the target revenues by £7,000. In that case a proportion of your guarantee would be called using the following calculation:Amount you have guaranteed divided by 25,000 (so in our example of £5,000 investment 5,000/25,000) = 0.2 This amount applied to the shortfall (so in our example a shortfall of £7,000 - 0.2 x £7,000 =£1,400 So in this example £1,400 of your £5,000 guarantee will be called in. 4
OPTION B: LOW-RISK INVESTOR An opportunity to support the project financially and with your investment underwritten by UK Theatre Tax Relief (TTR) - this is a far less risky investment than most other Theatre Investment Programmes Minimum Investment: £5,000 (up to our total TTR claim of £25,000) Recoupment of your Capital investment: Capital is returned in full upon receipt of the project’s UK Theatre Tax Relief claim (typically processed within 12 months following project completion). Box Office Profit Return: To recognise your early backing, if net box office income exceeds our baseline target of £50,000, you will receive an additional return of 5% per £5,000 invested on all net box office earnings above that threshold.
WORKED EXAMPLE OF OPTION B (LOW-RISK INVESTMENT) Investment: You invest £10,000 in January 2028 (= 2 x £5,000 units). Tour Execution: The show tours in Spring/Summer 2028 with a baseline Box Office Target of £50,000. Performance: Actual net box office achieved reaches £66,700 (£16,700 above target). Profit Share: You would receive 10% (2 x 5%) of the £16,700 surplus = £1,670 profit return. Tax Relief Recoupment: The project would submit its TTR claim in February 2029 and would receive funds in June 2029.
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SUPPORTER & INVESTOR BENEFITS All Investors and Guarantors joining ‘Shuff & Byng’ will be welcomed into the heart of the creative process with exclusive access: Rehearsal Room Access (“The Rehearsal Pact”) An invitation to step into the rehearsal room, meet the cast, watch key scenes take shape, and participate in an intimate Q&A with the creative team. VIP Press & Gala Invites Complimentary VIP tickets to both the Opening Press Night (Exeter Northcott) and the Gala Press Night (Wilton’s Music Hall), including invitations to post-show receptions. Programme & Official Credit Named accreditation in the production programme, press releases, and official show marketing as a core Supporter/Investor. Priority House Seats Priority access to a reserved allocation of the best seats in the house across all tour venues. Exclusive Keepsake Collection: ● Signed production programme. ● Bound Director’s Script signed by Tony Lidington and the team. ● Regular insider production updates and post-tour financial insights.
Enduring Gratitude: Our heartfelt thanks for bringing this vital piece of theatrical history to light.
NEXT STEPS & CONTACT To discuss joining the project as an Investor or Guarantor, or to request full financial projections, budget schedules, and contract agreements, please contact:
Matthew Linley ● 6
T 079897 48350 ● E linleymatt@gmail.com
J U L I AN C L ARY
“Casting my mind back a bit, I’m reasonably sure I had a gay old time playing the great female impersonator Douglas Byng in The Byng Ballads, a series for Radio 4 written by Tony Lidington. Previously, I was vaguely aware of Douggie, but after meeting Tony I was inspired to do some more research. Tony knew Byng, saw probably his last performance, and created the series based on Byng’s autobiography. It was something of an honour to portray this marvellous old queen who was a panto legend, doing my kind of camp nonsense a mere 30 years before I was born. I’m in little doubt that Tony could provide a similar service for Shuff and Byng, Shuff being Mrs Shufflewick, another wonderful gay turn, who I remember seeing at the Black Cap, near my home in London’s Camden Town.”
“Warmed my heart and made me think.” - Audience feedback
“A fabulous evening of great entertainment” Audience Feedback
“Fascinating and delightful” Audience Feedback
“The whole evening was enthralling. Terrific, fabulous fun” Audience Feebdack
“JUST GO. Even if you have never heard of Shuff and Byg It’s such enormous fun” Audience Feedback 7
MR S . SH UF F L E W I CK IN 6 QUICK FIRE FACTS
1. Mrs Shufflewick was the archetypal “woman in the corner of the pub.” Clad in a trademark floral hat and a scabby fur boa, famous for propping up the bar at the fictional local, The Cock and Comfort. 2. Rex cut his performance teeth during WWII in RAF gang shows in a highcaliber company led by Tony Hancock and alongside Dick Emery and Peter Sellars. He would become a mainstream star in the 50’s & 60’s (TV Mirror Personality of the Year, 1955)
“A comic genius. Even in his cups Rex was gloriously funny.” - Roy Hudd on Mrs. Shufflewick 3. Unlike the glitz and glamour of modern drag, “Shuff” was rooted in gritty, hilarious reality. A pioneer of the British drag circuit, the comedians comedian - Shuff is rightly celebrated for the ability to find the extraordinary in the “ordinary” woman at the bar.
4. Rex’s original character was a comedy vicar who would tell his congregation to “flock off.” The BBC deemed this far too risqué for the airwaves, leading to the birth of Mrs. Shufflewick — a character partly based on his foster mum, Aunty Mabel.
5. The man behind the character, Rex Jameson, was born in 1924. He was left on the steps of Trinity Hospital, London and was subsequently brought up by foster parents in Southend. 8
6. Mrs. Shufflewick would appear outwardly prim and proper, yet would frequently slip into tales of “murky sexual adventures” delivered with impeccable, ladylike timing.
DOU G L A S BYN G IN 6 QUICK FIRE FACTS
1. The First Lady of TV: Douglas Byng made history as the first female impersonator to perform on BBC TV (whilst also being banned from BBC Radio!). Byng’s ‘camp performances’ brought a sophisticated wit to the new medium.
3. The King of the Innuendo: Billed as “Bawdy but British,” his comedy was a masterclass in the double entendre. His songs were legendary for being filled with sexual innuendo, delivered with an elegant, knowing wink to his audience.
2. Queer in Plain Sight: Byng was a cross-dressing pioneer who lived and performed with an ‘outrageous’ elegance decades before the 1967 legal reforms. His work is now seen as a vital link in the history of sexuality and gender roles in British performance.
4. A Legendary Dame: Beyond the cabaret clubs, Byng was one of the most celebrated pantomime dames in history. Over a career spanning 70 years, he appeared in more than 30 pantomime productions, perfecting the art of the grande dame.
5. A 70-Year Legacy: From the elegant 1920s to the swinging 60s and beyond, Byng’s career was an extraordinary journey through drag history. An eccentric and exciting icon of the stage, he redefined what it meant to be a British showman.
‘The most refined vulgarity in London, mais quel artiste!’ - Noël Coward on Douglas Byng 6. High-Society Glamour: Byng was a giant of decadent cabaret and a star of the West End. He was the toast of the town, famously rubbing shoulders and “hanging out” with theatre royalty like Noël Coward. 9
COMMU NIT Y EN G AGEM EN T The development of Shuff & Byng has been grounded in workshops, interviews and conversations with LGBTQ+ young people, contemporary drag queens, kings and female impersonators from Harwich, Colchester and Exeter. These sessions were a vital part of our creative process and underlined the relevance of the material and Shuff and Byng’s story to today’s world. Through that work we have developed two workshops available to all venues who take the show. “The community-based research gave me as an established Queer artist a rare and welcome opportunity to discover in greater detail the joys and delights of contemporary LGBTQ+ attitudes and mores as reflected in the conversations and workshops we facilitated.” - Kinny Gardner (Douglas Byng) “The Shuff & Byng project has been an amazing experience for both our young people and our adult group. It was great to see them work with and alongside Billie, Tony and Kinny, and incredibly rewarding to witness our young peoples’ insights being incorporated into the work. We can’t wait to see the finished piece and are excited about the possibility of collaborating with the team again in the future.” - Fern Lovett, The OutHouse, LGBTQ+ Charity in Colchester & North Essex
Young people from The OutHouse with Tony Lidington, Kinny Gardner and Matthew Linley of The Shuff & Byng team at Mercury Theatre, Colchester prior to a sharing of extracts. Photo © Shuff & Byng project 10
T HE MAKIN G OF SHUFF & BYNG
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T HE TE AM MAK IN G SH U F F & BYNG TO NY L ID IN GTON W RI TE R & DIR EC TO R
“Imagine a really compelling story about two of the earliest female impersonators – that’s Shuff & Byng. Eccentric, exciting and relevant, the show explores class dynamics, sexuality, gender roles and the complex nature of joy, often over-shadowed by inner turmoil. It’s full of fun, great laughs, great music and some intimate insights.” Tony Lidington is a professional director, writer and performer with over 40 years experience: writing credits for the stage include Comrades - a folk musical, Joey - King of Clowns, Dan Leno – The King’s Jester, Kings of Cloth of Gold and 10 pantomimes for various middle-scale venues. Tony has written over a dozen BBC Radio 4 programmes, including The Byng Ballads performed live by Julian Clary in 2012. Tony has been artistic director of his own company – Promenade Promotions (Prom-Prom) Limited for the past 23 years, producing work at small and medium scales alongside freelance directing. Tony has been the artistic director of Wakefield Theatre Royal & Opera House and project managed festivals and events throughout the country for diverse audiences at all scales of performance. He is currently a part-time Senior Lecturer in Drama at the University of Exeter, where he was awarded his doctorate in 2017.
K I N N Y G A R D N ER
CRE ATI NG THE CHA RAC T E R OF D OU G L A S BY N G “A joyful theatrical exploration of two hysterical stars of British drag history, in a contemporary re-telling, with snazzy songs, daft dances and sadly serious silliness.” Kinny’s theatre credits include Godspell, The Rocky Horror Show, Chicago (as Mary Sunshine), The Mousetrap, Sweeney Todd, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pirates of Penzance, The Threepenny Opera, The Rhythmics, Assassins and Cabaret. For 27 years Kinny was a principal guest solo artist with Lindsay Kemp and his Company, being his second leading man and second leading lady. Kinny recently featured in Promenade, a feature film directed by John Jencks released in 2025, playing the principal role of ‘Lover Pip’.
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B I L L I E BOT T L E
MUSI C AL DIREC TO R & COMP OS E R “Shuff & Byng is about two original female impersonators who found success in the 1930’s-50’s – one a very English character who hung out with Noel Coward, the other an over the garden fence kind of trollop who played everywhere from the Palladium to the Black Cap and was more overtly risqué. I sometimes talk about them being queer-in-plain-sight and how they connect to the legalisation of male homosexuality in the 60’s.” Billie Bottle is a versatile composer and multi-instrumentalist who bridges the gap between jazz, rock, and folk music. Her theatrical experience is highlighted by a five-year tenure as a pivotal musician touring with the renowned Giffords Circus. She has further contributed to the stage by scoring the soundtrack for Too Pretty To Punch, Edalia Day’s multimedia production exploring transgender identity. Beyond the stage, she has collaborated extensively with progressive rock icons Caravan and avant-garde jazz legends Mike and Kate Westbrook. Her own creative projects, such as the Temple of Shibboleth, blend mythic themes with contemporary issues like feminism and climate collapse.
M AT TH E W LI N L E Y P RODUCER
“I’ve loved getting to know these two great stars of their time who were almost forgotten. Shuff & Byng feels like a vital, relevant and gloriously quirky way to bring them both back to the stage” Matthew is a freelance producer. He is currently Head of Producing (Stephen Joseph Theatre - maternity cover) and Associate Producer: National Touring for RABBLE Theatre, as well as Chair of the National Rural Touring Forum. In development - Shuff & Byng, KATHARINE (both for Slaget Theatre) and William the Conqueror (RABBLE). Recent work for RABBLE includes Glitch (national tour), Henry 1 (Reading, Winchester, London) and for Funnelwick Limb Twelve Yuletide Yarns, The Chronicles of Atom and Luna and The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps. Other highlights as producer include The City and the Town (national tours in UK and Sweden), The Ballad of Maria Marten (Eastern Angles, national tours) and Nina - a story about me and Nina Simone (Unity Theatre, national and international tours).
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RISK NOTICE & REGULATORYCOMPLIANCE Investment in theatrical productions involves risk. Reliance on this document for engaging in investment activity may expose an individual to a risk of losing capital invested.. Full financial schedules, recoupment models, and formal investment agreements will be provided prior to any binding commitment.
APPENDIX ONE - FOR THE INVESTORS The anticipated TTR claim would be as follows Capitalisation Costs £70,000 circa 80% of capitalisation £56,000 45% TTR £25,200 Investors can opt to have their capital returned to them direct from HMRC or via the Shuff and Byng team
APPENDIX TWO - FOR THE GUARANTORS. TOUR DETAILS At the time of writing the small to midscale tour is 75% booked. It will run over 6 weeks between May and June. 30 performances across the tour, meaning we will need to earn £1,666 in guarantees and fees per performance to hit our target of £50k. A not unreasonable target. Of the tour itself 21 of the performances are heavily pencilled, with 9 still to confirm, a healthy position at this stage. A updated tour breakdown and individual venue targets is available on request.
APPENDIX THREE - TIMELINE 2026 August - October - tour booking and investment seeking in Shuff and Byng continues. November - Arts Council application. Draft contracts issued, and investments / guarantors are listed in the application 2027 Feb - Arts Council touring decision March - Re submit if tourned down June - Arts Council touring decision 2 July - last point for the decision to proceed to be made. Contracts issued for signature. September - Last point for capital investment to be drawn down 2028 May - Shuff & Byng tour begins June - Shuff & Byng tour ends 2029 Feb - Slaget Theatre Ltd accounts and tax return made May - TTR claim received and distributed to investors
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RISK NOTICE & REGULATORYCOMPLIANCE APPENDIX FOUR: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FUNDING & GREEN-LIGHTING Q: You require a combination of Arts Council England (ACE) funding, investors, and guarantors. What happens to my money/commitment if you don’t hit these target thresholds? A: There are a few scenarios to consider depending on how funding progresses: If the ACE application is turned down: If our initial ACE National Lottery Project Grants application is unsuccessful, we will request your permission to roll your investment or guarantee forward to a second application. If the second bid is also unsuccessful, we will cancel all agreements and immediately return any upfront capital received in full. If investment or guarantee targets fall short, but ACE funding is secured: The directors of Slaget Theatre may elect to green-light the project on the available finance. In this case, your existing investment/guarantor agreement will remain unchanged. If the tour cannot proceed: If the directors decide not to proceed with the tour for any reason, you will be notified immediately, all contracts will be cancelled, and 100% of any capital provided will be returned.
UK THEATRE TAX RELIEF (UKTTR) & RETURNS Q: I am considering becoming an investor—how reliable is the UK Theatre Tax Relief (UKTTR) claim? A: Highly reliable. Provided current policy remains unchanged, Shuff & Byng (produced by Slaget Theatre) fully qualifies for UK Theatre Tax Relief at the 45% touring rate. Furthermore, Slaget Theatre and its associate company, Funnelwick Limb, hold a 100% success rate with UKTTR claims. Q: When and how will my capital investment be returned? A: Capital is returned following the processing of our UKTTR claim by HMRC. Accounts and tax filings take place in early 2029 following the 2028 tour, with TTR payouts and distribution to investors scheduled for May–June 2029. Investors can opt to have capital returned directly from HMRC or distributed via the Slaget Theatre team. Q: What happens if the tour exceeds its box office revenue targets? A: If you are an investor to reward your early backing, if net box office earnings surpass our baseline target of £50,000, investors receive an additional profit return of 5% per £5,000 unit invested on all net box office surplus above that £50,000 mark.
GUARANTORS & LIABILITIES Q: I am considering acting as a Guarantor. Is there any scenario where I could be asked to pay more than my guaranteed amount? A: No. You will never be asked to pay more than your agreed guarantee amount. Even if a shortfall calculation mathematically yields a higher figure, your financial exposure is strictly capped at the maximum limit of your signed guarantee. Q: As a Guarantor, when would I actually be required to transfer funds? A: You transfer no cash upfront. Your funds are only called upon after the tour completes, and only if net box office revenue falls below the £50,000 break-even target. If the tour meets or exceeds £50,000, your funds are never requested, but you still enjoy all supporter and investor benefits.
PARTICIPATION & BENEFITS Q: Can I split my support between an upfront Investment and a Guarantee? A: Yes. We welcome flexible structures (e.g., combining a £5,000 upfront investment with a £5,000 underwriting guarantee). Please speak directly with the producer to tailor an agreement that fits your preferences. Q: How do I access my investor/guarantor benefits (VIP tickets, rehearsal access, script, etc.)? A: Once contracts are finalised, our producing team will liaise directly with you. You will receive key production dates, invitations to “The Rehearsal Pact” sessions, and priority booking options for press nights at Wilton’s Music Hall, Exeter Northcott, or any other tour stop of your choice.
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Shuff & Byng PRODUCED BY Slaget Theatre Proudly made in Harwich at Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre FOR BOOKING Matthew Linley T 079897 48350 E linleymatt@gmail.com RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED BY Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre Eastern Angles Colchester Arts Centre Arts Council England with funds from the National Lottery COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK SUPPORTED BY Noël Coward Foundation ARCHIVE RESEARCH WORK SUPPORTED BY Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Awards with the Victoria & Albert Museum
“Just Go - even if you have never heard of Shuff & Byng - it’s such terrific, fabulous fun” - Sofia Bagge, Theatre Director Production photography by Mike Kwasniak. Team photograph by Alice Cannell. Rehearsal and BTS photography by Alice Cannell and Matthew Linley. Mrs Shufflewick archive photography courtesy of The Robert Workman Archive (Bishopsgate Institute) and Dr Tony Lidington Personal Archive Douglas Byng archive photography courtesy of The Wellcome Collection and Dr Tony Lidington Personal Archive . Matthew Linley biog picture by Luke Witcomb 16