An incredible 4.3 million people across the world enjoyed work by the National Theatre during its 2013/2014 season, generating £100 million over the financial year.
The South Bank-based theatre’s hugely successful year was revealed today with the publication of its annual report. As well as celebrating a year of numerous hit productions including Tori Amos’ debut musical The Light Princess, the revival of Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste Of Honey and the Olivier Award-winning The Amen Corner, 2013/2014 was a momentous year for the venue as it marked its 50th anniversary and announced the departure of Director Nicholas Hytner and Executive Director Nick Starr after a hugely successful partnership at the helm.
Described by Hytner as a “testament to the National’s continuing rude health,” the report, which covers not only the work staged at the NT’s London home but on tour, across the world and as part of its popular NT Live cinema initiative, revealed the NT gave a staggering 3,149 performances in the UK and internationally.
Across its spaces at the NT’s South Bank home, audience attendance was 89%, with 33% of attendees first-time bookers. Of its £100 million income, 65% was taken at the box office and 17% was accounted for by Arts Council funding.
The year saw the success of NT Live continue to grow, with 550 cinemas across the UK now participating and 1.5 million people across the world attending a screening of one of the many shows to take part in the scheme.
Other statistics released today include the number of tickets sold in the £12 Travelex Ticket season, which grew to 1.4 million, while 156,000 discounted tickets for young theatregoers were sold for NT productions in London.
The report also noted that out of the 32 new plays staged from 2013 to the planned 2015 season, 19 are written or co-written by women, with Hytner calling it “a belated relief to know that the dominance of the male playwright is over”.
The report was announced today with the news that the theatre’s current Chief Operating Officer Lisa Burger will join incoming Director Rufus Norris and Chief Executive Tessa Ross as the Executive Director. The trio will formally begin work together in April 2015 when Norris takes up the esteemed post.