The annual London theatre initiative Kids Week (
www.kidsweek.co.uk) has achieved a 77% year-on-year increase in first-day sales, with 85,336 tickets sold in the first 24 hours since going on sale on 17 June 2014 at 10:00am (compared to the equivalent period in 2013). Revenue from paid tickets surpassed £2m.
Run by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) since 1998, Kids Week lasts for the whole of August, with an exciting line-up of 37 shows offering free children's tickets. During Kids Week, a child aged 16 or under can go free to participating shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price. Up to two extra children's tickets can also be purchased at half price, per transaction.
Kids Week also offers a wide range of free activities giving young people, from under-fives to teenagers, the opportunity to explore backstage, step into the spotlight and to meet some of the cast, crew and creatives behind London's biggest shows.
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT said: "I am delighted Kids Week has achieved such robust figures in the first day of sales alone, with an incredible year-on-year growth. The London theatre industry really gets behind Kids Week to offer unrivalled opportunities for children to take centre stage every August, often giving them their first experience of the magic of live theatre."
Simon Presswell, Managing Director of Ticketmaster UK, commented: "Kids Week continues to grow in size and popularity, with 2014 again beating all previous records. We are very proud to support Kids Week and it's fantastic to know that so many young people are being given the opportunity to experience theatre this summer."
There are still more than 50,000 tickets available for Kids Week shows, and allocations are topped up over the summer months. Book online at
www.kidsweek.co.uk or via the dedicated ticket hotline 0844 248 5151 supported by Ticketmaster. There are no booking or postage fees.
In addition to the free children's tickets, families will be able to enjoy meal deals at selected London restaurants and take advantage of travel and hotel offers.
For the latest Kids Week news and conversation, join the thriving Kids Week social media community on Facebook (
www.facebook.com/KidsWeekLondon) and follow Kids Week on Twitter @KidsWeek.
The shows taking part in Kids Week 2014 are as follows (some shows may have now sold out but there is a possibility they will increase their allocation so check
www.kidsweek.co.uk for the latest availability)
All Ages 3+
Aliens Love Underpants, The Elephantom, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, What The Ladybird Heard
All Ages 5+
The 39 Steps, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Disney's The Lion King, Hetty Feather, Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain Part 2, I Believe In Unicorns, Let It Be, MAMMA MIA!, Matilda The Musical, LES MISERABLES, The Pajama Game, The Phantom Of The Opera, Stomp, Thriller Live, Top Hat, Wicked
Parental Guidance
Billy Elliot The Musical, The Bodyguard, The Commitments, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The Gershwin's Porgy And Bess, The Importance Of Being Earnest, Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense, The Mousetrap, Shakespeare In Love,
War Horse, The Woman In Black
15+
Avenue Q, Ghost Stories, Jersey Boys, Let The Right One In, Once, A Small Family Business
Please note: Shows are listed by age suitability but this is only a guideline. Information about the shows is available on the Kids Week website. Shows on offer may change throughout the promotion and all offers are subject to availability for specific performances (especially at weekends).
