LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2014

Photo: Henry V - Bell Shakespeare, Michele Mossop

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The Theatre category experienced declines in revenue and attendance in 2014, in contrast to the strong gains achieved in 2013. Gross revenue fell from $119.65 million to $99.71 million, or by 16.7%. Total attendances decreased by 18.3%, while the average ticket price increased slightly from $72.88 to $73.83.

As with previous years, performances through the AMPAG companies generated a large share of ticket sales and revenue. In 2014, the AMPAG companies staged fewer theatre performances compared to 2013, which helps to explain the fall in revenue and attendance. Major companies within AMPAG include Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company. Major performances by these companies included Macbeth, Cyrano de Bergerac and Noises Off by Sydney Theatre Company and The Speechmaker, Pennsylvania Avenue and Private Lives by Melbourne Theatre Company.

Commercial theatre tours also experienced declines in 2014 with fewer performances than in 2013. Major commercial performances included national tours of Mrs Browns Boys, The Last Confession and Wogboys. A Murder is Announced also continued its national tour, which was performed over two calendar years. All of these major performances were staged in Western Australia in 2014, which helps to explain the strong growth in that state of 61% in revenue and 35% in attendance.

Close Table

Theatre - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2014)

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%
2014 $99,714,555 -16.7% 1,504,367 -18.3% $73.83 1.3%

*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 (2014)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013 Attendance Proportion Industry Share Change From 2013
NSW $35,025,083 35.1% -2.4% 543,973 36.2% -3.8%
VIC $30,835,349 30.9% -8.7% 447,476 29.7% -5.6%
QLD $11,934,177 12.0% 0.9% 188,737 12.5% 1.6%
WA $13,120,291 13.2% 6.3% 200,592 13.3% 5.3%
SA $5,850,356 5.9% 2.2% 89,523 6.0% 2.0%
ACT $1,925,052 1.9% 0.7% 23,862 1.6% 0.0%
TAS $940,361 0.9% 0.9% 7,471 0.5% 0.5%
NT $83,886 0.1% 0.0% 2,733 0.2% 0.1%

Photo: Emerald City - Griffin Theatre Company, Brett Boardman

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