Did you doubt it? No, me neither. I’ve had too many magical times making and watching London theatre to consider a future without it.
None the less it’s rather lovely to see its benefits to the economy and society at large spelt out quite so clearly as it is in the latest press release from SOLT (The Society of London Theatre)
Here are their claims without further comment from me other than that, as a West End Theatre critic for over 20 years, I feel rather proud to be a small part of it. May it flourish again soon.
Society of London Theatre Box Office Data 2019
2019 ticket sales data for the West End and London’s major subsidized theatres:
- Attendances of 15.3 million – nearly 1 million higher than Broadway
- Gross revenue of £798,994,920
- Average ticket price paid £52.17
- VAT generated for the Treasury of £133,165,820
- 80.7% of available seats filled (up from 77.5% in 2018)
- 18,364 performances
Industry Facts & Figures
The combined box office income of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre’s membership was more than £1.28 billion across London and the rest of the UK, with 34 million tickets sold in 2018.
Tourism and the night-time economy: Around 37,000 people see a show in the West End every night
Overseas visitors make up nearly ¼ of audience members.
Loss to HMT of VAT payments (over £130mn for West End theatres alone) plus enormous economic impact on all related hospitality and related businesses – multiplier estimated at 5-6 times in major cities – if theatres are forced to shut down permanently.
London accounts for 47% of all theatre performances in the UK and 43% of theatre venues across England.
The UK’s theatre industry plays a key economic, social and place-making role. Theatre and the performing arts make a powerful contribution to our society and to our national identity. They make areas richer culturally and financially, and they make places more attractive to live and work. Much innovation takes place in the regions, for example HOME in Manchester was the first arts organisation (and therefore theatre) in the world to have 100% of staff trained in climate literacy.
Theatre is a major UK export internationally (productions, staffing and licensing) and contributes to the UK’s soft power; from The Ferryman on Broadway, to English Touring Theatre’s Othello at the Dubai Opera House, to the Curve theatre Leicester’s production of Grease in Dubai, are just a few examples.
Our talent creates some of the most recognisable and bankable international hits in film and TV, but all the initial support happens in theatre, for instance Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag or Peter Morgan and The Crown.
SOLT and UK Theatre work with theatres on how to best fulfill requirements for patrons with access needs, as well as encouraging access to theatre for young and diverse theatre goers. We also support theatre workforces through training and career development, including addressing skills shortages, entry routes, in career training and inclusivity.
Further reading for wider context: Analysis of Theatre in England (Arts Council)
Indigo is a survey company which, according to their websites, prides itself on providing “smart, sensible and practical consultancy for the cultural sector” based on “a vast combined knowledge of the sector but also a passion for the arts – and an overriding desire to help the sector thrive”