LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report 2018

Photo: The Book of Mormon, The Gordon Frost Organisation, Jeff Busby

Musical TheatreClick for more info

Musical Theatre infographic (PDF)

The Musical Theatre category experienced a y-o-y decline of 4.0% in revenue from $416.8m in 2017 to $400.2m and decrease in attendance by 3.1% from 4.0m in 2017 to 3.9m in 2018. The average ticket price declined marginally by 0.7% from $109.66 in 2017 to $108.85 in 2018. Top events in this category in 2018 were The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Evita, Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Story and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Musical Theatre is the second largest category, generating 18.5% of revenue and 14.9% of attendance within the overall live performance industry in 2018. NSW and VIC accounts for the major revenue and attendance in this category. NSW and VIC command a market share of 38.4% and 32.6% in revenue, while their market share in attendance was 36.3% and 33.3% respectively. Combined they generated around a 71.0% market share of revenue and a 69.8% market share of attendance in 2018.

NSW experienced a y-o-y increase of 31.2% in revenue and 19.2% y-o-y growth in attendance. Major musicals that performed in NSW included The Book of Mormon, Evita, Grease – The Arena Experience, Green Day’s American Idiot and Calamity Jane. VIC recorded a significant y-o-y decline of 36.6% in revenue and 31.9% y-o-y decline in attendance in this category. The decline in revenue and attendance may be explained by the closure of the Princess Theatre for refurbishment and the movement of The Book of Mormon to NSW. Major musicals that performed in Victoria included Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Story, Aladdin and Evita.

NT experienced a significant y-o-y growth of 4621.0% in revenue and 3408.2% growth in attendance. However, its impact was minimal, as it contributed only a 0.1% market share of revenue and a 0.1% market share of attendance.

WA witnessed the second-highest y-o-y increase in revenue (58.0%) and second-highest y-o-y increase in attendance (89.1%) among all the states and territories. The top event in this category was Aladdin.

Close Table

Musical Theatre - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2018)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $138,718,880 1,847,505 $76.34
2005 $178,032,172 28.3% 2,460,314 33.2% $76.01 -0.4%
2006 $235,922,584 32.5% 2,806,153 14.1% $86.18 13.4%
2007 $228,854,618 -3.0% 3,358,727 19.7% $70.50 -18.2%
2008 $252,199,267 10.2% 3,129,729 -6.8% $89.23 26.6%
2009 $214,959,848 -14.8% 2,458,212 -21.5% $93.54 4.8%
2010 $242,897,364 13.0% 2,612,507 6.3% $98.84 5.7%
2011 $246,792,376 1.6% 2,799,918 7.2% $92.79 -6.1%
2012 $203,278,606 -17.6% 2,224,068 -20.6% $97.08 4.6%
2013 $193,389,763 -4.9% 2,085,131 -6.2% $100.94 4.0%
2014 $320,342,329 65.6% 3,182,478 52.6% $105.70 4.7%
2015 $334,869,038 4.5% 3,258,734 2.4% $108.13 2.3%
2016 $347,684,296 3.8% 3,298,051 1.2% $111.21 2.9%
2017 $416,802,525 19.9% 4,041,827 22.6% $109.66 0.9%
2018 $400,199,798 -4.0% 3,917,532 -3.1% $108.85 -0.7%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

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

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Musical Theatre - by State/Territory (2018)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2017 Attendance Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2017
NSW $153,597,132 38.4% 31.2% 1,423,492 36.3% 19.2%
VIC $130,451,023 32.6% -36.6% 1,309,917 33.4% -31.9%
QLD $59,055,742 14.8% 12.7% 568,959 14.5% 6.6%
WA $33,823,171 8.5% 58.0% 362,969 9.3% 89.1%
SA $19,962,343 5.0% 23.4% 210,103 5.4% 33.9%
ACT $2,300,167 0.6% -43.9% 27,970 0.7% -33.8%
TAS $593,310 0.1% 0.0% 8,965 0.2% 0.0%
NT $416,910 0.1% 4,621.0% 5,157 0.1% 3,408.2%

Photo: Evita, The Gordon Frost Organisation, Jeff Busby

Individual Category Results