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West End shows on Shaftesbury Avenue

West End shows on Shaftesbury Avenue

London theatre celebrates robust 2016

First Published 31 March 2017, Last Updated 31 March 2017

Box office figures published today by the Society of London Theatre demonstrate 2016 to be another robust year for the capital’s thriving theatre industry.

Comparative highlights to previous years are: 

  • London theatres’ gross revenue was £644,719,639, up 1.7% compared to 2015.
  • Sales generated VAT receipts for the Treasury of £107,453,273.
  • Overall attendance reached 14,328,121 (down 2.8% year on year, but with the overall number of performances down 5.95% on 2015).
  • 76.7% of available seats in theatres were filled, up 4.1% compared to 2015, and a new record.
  • Weekly attendance peaked in the week commencing December 26 2016 at 439,103, a new record.

The figures show considerable evidence of the ever increasing popularity of London theatre.

Caro Newling, President of the Society of London Theatre, said of the figures: “With our shows performing to record numbers, the box office figures for 2016 further cement London’s place as a world-leader in theatre.

“Revenues are just one measure of success; what we are most proud of is that new generations of theatre-goers are drawn to the capital, home of the world’s greatest creative talent, by our peerless ability to craft and tell the stories that resonate.”   

Society of London Theatre (SOLT) are a not-for-profit organisation representing the London theatre industry, including London’s theatre owners, producers and managers. SOLT also runs the Olivier Awards, West End LIVE, TKTS, Theatre Tokens, Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre.

The Olivier Awards 2017 with Mastercard, the UK’s most prestigious stage honours, will take place on Sunday 9 April. Visit OlivierAwards.com for more information. 

You can keep up to date with all the Olivier Awards news between now and the grand occasion on Official London Theatre, and by following us on Twitter and Facebook. You can also follow the Oliviers’ own Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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