Leicester Curve Releases Annual Report and Announce Plans To Increase Auditorium Capacity

Today Curve theatre in Leicester has announced another successful year and confirmed an additional 67 seats will be added to its larger auditorium during 2019, taking the seating capacity to 969.

With capital grant funding from Leicester City Council of £780,000, Curve will work with theatre seating specialists Charcoal Blue to add more seats into the stalls area of the theatre. Curve's accessibility will also be improved as five new fixed wheelchair positions will be added to the stalls area and the female toilet facilities significantly increased.

The 2017/18 annual review revealed Curve has increased its average attendance by 8%, with occupancy levels reaching 77% overall. The theatre's Made at Curve produced work and Curve on Tour productions - which included the award-winning touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton's Sunset Boulevard and the world-premiere of Amana Fontanella-Khan's Pink Sari Revolution - achieved an average of 80% capacity.

Other key achievements included:

• Engaging over one million people with activity at Curve and through produced work on tour
• Exceeding £10.6million turnover
• Achieving a theatre ticket yield of £29.21
• Selling over 15,000 £10 tickets
• Increasing digital engagement with 400,000 people either viewing, sharing or interacting with Curve's digital creative content
• Touring nine Made at Curve productions or co-productions nationally and internationally
• Providing over 400 creative learning sessions either at Curve or in the community
• Engaging nearly 500 schools with either a workshop, performance or activity at Curve
• Welcoming 5,400 people to take part in learning activities around key events during the year
• Supporting 1,460 established or emerging artists through their artist development programme

Leicester City Council has been one of Curve's principal supporters over the last 10 years, and this additional capital funding will enable Curve to increase its earning capacity and lay foundations for the theatre to become more financially sustainable in the years to come. The new seating plans will be available to view in the Curve Foyer and via curveonline.co.uk from November 2018.

Chris Stafford, Chief Executive and Nikolai Foster Artistic Director said today:

"2017/18 was a terrific year for Curve, with all areas of the theatre firing on all cylinders, setting the tone for what we are achieving during our action-packed 10th Birthday year.

"We are thrilled over one million people either visited our home in Leicester or saw a Made at Curve co-production on the road. Our ambition to create diverse, entertaining and challenging theatre for our communities in the 21st Century is always developing; none of this work would be possible without the support of our growing loyal audiences, the dedicated work of the Curve team and our principal funders, Leicester City Council and Arts Council England.

"The addition of extra seats to our larger auditorium enables us to develop our artistic offering through increased revenue, strengthen existing relationships and bring higher profile national and international touring productions to the city. Accessibility is always paramount and the five new fixed wheelchair positions ensure Curve continues to remain a place where everyone can engage with the arts."

Ian Squires, Chair of Leicester Theatre Trust commented:

"I think this report shows what a remarkable asset we have with this theatre in Leicester - a truly national and international stage that has also developed deep roots with our local community through outreach and educational work. The addition of more seats in the main theatre offers Curve and its loyal audiences a greater opportunity to bring even bigger shows to town and to secure Curve's place for the future."

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