The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) says that the number of people who went to see shows in 2007 almost reached a staggering 13.5 million – a 10 per cent increase in figures from the previous year.
Another set of numbers that will definitely put a smile on producers’ faces, are the box office collection figures. According to SOLT the West End’s total box office collection was £470 million in 2007.
The boost in the ticket revenues was mostly due to the appeal of musicals and to “a combination of high-profile show openings hand reality TV tie-ins”, according to Visit London (VL).
However, VL reports that advanced bookings levels have started to drop in the last few months, limiting expectations for 2008.
Restoration needed
The London Assembly (LA) has hinted that these blooming results could be affected in the long-run by the conditions of the theatre’s infrastructures.
According to LA’s Restoration Drama report, the 40 commercial theatres of the West End were all built before 1937 and have received a “limited” level of investment in the last few years.
In 2003, the Theatres Trust suggested that making improvements to the theatre buildings would require a £250 million investment over a fifteen year period.
Now, assembly member Bob Blackman, leader of the investigation, claims that a standard solution cannot be applied to obtain the funding for the necessary refurbishments.
He has proposed tailor-made strategies for each individual theatre, and has stated that both owners and public bodies have a role to play in the process.
Raising funds
The London Assembly pointed out that there were several strategies private companies could apply, including the possibility of increasing ticket prices by £1 and promoting public fundraising campaigns.
They could also ask for the involvement of producers and commercial sponsors, or even give the public a chance to name seats or appear in the theatre’s programme in exchange for their donations.
Blackman’s report also called for contribution from the public sector, which could mean letting off the theatres from paying the Value Added Tax (VAT).
