The Society of London Theatre 2008 Box Office Data Report is now available, and in a year that saw the country fall into a recession, it shows that London Theatreland once again proved resilient, with the highest number of attendances in the West End ever recorded.
The Box Office Data Report shows that a record-breaking 13,892,460 people attended a total of 18,275 performances in the West End last year, raising the seating capacity to a record high of 19,738,414 and underlining London theatre’s continued popularity.
Researched and written for the Society of London Theatre by Richard Andrews of Performance Report, the annual report analyses audience data, performance numbers, ticket prices, external factors affecting theatre audiences, the difference in performance between commercial and subsidised theatre, and compares categories of productions, for example how plays fared against dance shows.
The report also includes information on campaigns run by the Society of London Theatre, including details of 2008’s record-breaking Kids Week – an annual promotion designed to introduce young people to the theatre – which resulted in 51,252 tickets being sold, 14,690 more than in the previous year’s scheme.
The report is essential reading for anyone involved in theatre, whether you are an investor, producer, theatre marketer, box office manager, work within a government sector dealing with performing arts or have a personal interest in the stage, and is available to order for £45 (plus postage and packaging) by calling the Society of London Theatre on 020 7557 6700.
For more information visit Official London Theatre’s Publication & Reports page.
CM