LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2013

Photo: Waiting for Godot - Sydney Theatre Company, Lisa Tomasetti

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The Theatre category drew attendance of 195,125 and generated $4.97 million in revenue, making it the second highest grossing category in terms of revenue, and the most popular category in terms of attendance. Low average ticket prices of $32.78 may also have assisted in the demand for Theatre performances, offsetting a high proportion of unpaid tickets (22.3%).

This category also staged the highest number of performances (2,465), which account for 48.3% of the total number of performances staged. However, average revenue per performance ($2,017) and average attendance per performance (79) are well below the industry averages.

Key Organisations produced most of the revenue for this category, with notable contributors being Barking Gecko Theatre Company and La Boite Theatre. Whitehorse Centre and Geelong Performing Arts Centre also made a significant contribution.

Close Table

Theatre - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2013)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $89,417,616 2,202,812 $43.87
2005 $73,988,892 -17.3% 2,117,854 -3.9% $38.04 -13.3%
2006 $143,564,232 94.0% 3,828,254 80.8% $39.42 3.6%
2007 $117,382,525 -18.2% 2,505,458 -34.6% $50.42 27.9%
2008 $80,476,671 -31.4% 1,944,188 -22.4% $46.92 -6.9%
2009 $64,440,541 -19.9% 1,602,591 -17.6% $46.58 -0.7%
2010 $60,151,139 -6.7% 1,354,336 -15.5% $51.47 10.5%
2011 $65,880,712 9.5% 1,380,622 1.9% $56.14 9.1%
2012 $82,973,259 25.9% 1,601,425 16.0% $59.86 6.6%
2013 $119,647,414 44.2% 1,842,177 15.0% $72.88 21.8%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

** Average Ticket Prices are calculated based only on paid tickets

Note: 2008 revenue and ticketing data for the Theatre category is not directly comparable to the 2009-2012 ticketing data due to the introduction of new categories being Comedy, and Circus and Physical Theatre. A large number of events which were previously in the Theatre category are now reallocated into these new categories. As a result, this has contributed to the decrease in reported revenue and attendances in this category.

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Theatre - Revenue by State/Territory (2013)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Proportion Industry Share Change From 2012 Attendance Proportion Industry Share Change From 2012
NSW $44,899,152 37.5% 4.4% 735,664 39.9% 1.1%
VIC $47,433,968 39.6% 0.5% 651,419 35.4% 2.7%
QLD $13,229,582 11.1% 2.4% 201,817 11.0% 0.7%
WA $8,159,342 6.8% -5.1% 148,274 8.0% -3.4%
SA $4,424,182 3.7% -0.3% 72,924 4.0% -0.2%
ACT $1,438,420 1.2% -2.0% 29,944 1.6% -0.9%
TAS $0 0.0% 0.0% 0 0.0% 0.0%
NT $62,769 0.1% 0.0% 2,135 0.1% 0.0%

Photo: The Bloody Chamber - Malthouse Theatre

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