Partnership Investment Finance

Severn Dwarves go to work with PIF

THE COMPANY

 

Huddersfield-based theatre, television and film production company, Seven Dwarves, have been invited back to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2008 to run two of the festivals' most popular venues: the Royal Scot’s Club and European in Scotland . This follows a successful trip to the Festival in 2007, which was financed through a Partnership Investment Finance loan.

THE CHALLENGE

 

When the company was approached by Edinburgh Festival Fringe to run two of the festival’s venues, Artistic and Managing Director of Seven Dwarves, Trevor Alexander said: “A week before the festival, we were informed that the company running three venues, including the venue we were due to perform at, had gone bankrupt. This put the festival plans of our company and 40 other companies in jeopardy. So we decided that as we were already committed to performing in Edinburgh , and had the skills and knowledge, we would take over the running two of the venues. We thought we could come to the rescue of the other companies and hopefully attract greater interest in our organisation.”

However, the company required an instant cash injection to cover the costs of operating throughout the Fringe season.

THE SOLUTION

 

Seven Dwarves approached PIF for a £15k micro-loan which would allow them to produce three productions for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and showcase their writing and production talents. PIF agreed to the loan, which was used to cover overheads and marketing costs.

In the end, Seven Dwarves produced five theatre pieces for the Fringe Festival when they took over two productions from the failed company, in addition to running two of the festivals key venues. The theatre pieces included Roald Dahl’s The Witches, ORGASM: The Musical, Hansel and Gretel – A Fractured Fairytale. They were presented with a prestigious Three Weeks Editor’s Award in recognition of their achievements.

Mr Alexander said: “It was a big risk to take but it has certainly paid off. We successfully ran the two venues for the duration of the festival and it was a great opportunity to network and to market our talents to the international stage. It has enabled Seven Dwarves to gain a host of international contacts, which means we are now in an excellent position to showcase our talent all over the world.”

Consequently, Seven Dwarves has received offers to appear at further International Festivals, including Brighton Fringe, Montreal , Toronto , Adelaide and the Dublin Gay Festival.

PIF Lending Manager, Graeme Leake, said: “We are delighted with the opportunities that our loan has opened up for Seven Dwarves. We immediately saw the potential of the company and agreed that the festival could potentially yield long term results.”

Seven Dwarves’ Festival Fringe triumphs forms part of a successful first year, as following extensive negotiations they have also secured exclusive film and documentary rights to the works, research and discoveries of International Mathematician and Astronomer, Patrick Geryl; the author of nine bestsellers including The Orion Prophecy and How to Survive 2012.