Sheffield Theatres Celebrates Excellent Results in 2013
Sheffield Theatres has released its annual report for 2013 with highlights including the award of Regional Theatre of the Year, record-breaking audience numbers and a turnover in excess of £11 million.
Recognised as Regional Theatre of the Year at the beginning of 2013 (an accolade which the Theatres won for an unprecedented second year in 2014), Sheffield Theatres created eleven of its own productions, five of which were world premiéres, and welcomed 72 visiting companies to its stages during the year. Its production of The Full Monty toured across the UK and was enjoyed by over 131,000 and the company also took its work to the international stage with the transfer of Mike Bartlett's Bull, first staged in the Studio, to New York as part of the Brits Off Broadway season.
Sheffield Theatres attracted over 439,000 people through its doors during 2013, the company's highest recorded attendance, representing an average of around 8,500 people each week. People continued to travel from across the country for the company's work, with 17% of its audience travelling for over an hour to come to the city. Sheffield People's Theatre, its intergenerational theatre company, went from strength to strength with a sell-out week of Twenty Tiny Plays About Sheffield in the Studio, and the BBC's visit with the CBeebies Christmas pantomime brought 25,000 families and children to the Crucible over its 3 day run.
The Theatres generated 84% of its own income through ticket sales, commercial activity and fundraising, generating a turnover of £11.1 million. Its total economic impact was £36 million.
Dan Bates, Sheffield Theatres Chief Executive commented:
'Sheffield Theatres' reputation, nationally and internationally, is exceptional. Like most regional theatres, we have experienced economic challenges over the last 12 months, however, our success has been made possible thanks to the team's ambition and drive, the outstanding quality of our work and the passionate support of our audiences, our funders and of our business partners and sponsors.'
The results come as the company prepares for its next major project: the refurbishment of the Lyceum Theatre. The £1.9 million project, which commences in next month, will improve the customer experience upgrade the theatre's equipment some of which is over 20 years old and improve its energy efficiency, thereby reducing its long-term operating costs. The Theatres has launched a Business Club to support the refurbishment - the club is open to 25 members and the theatres have already attracted 21 local businesses to lend their support. Customers are also being encouraged to support the refurbishment by texting LYCM001 to 70970 to give as little as £5.00.
Sheffield Theatres' Annual Report is available to download at www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
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