LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey 2016

Photo: Kinky Boots, Michael Cassel Group, Matthew Murphy

Musical TheatreClick for more info

The Musical Theatre category experienced a slight increase in revenue by 3.8% from $334.9m in 2015 to $347.7m in 2016 and attendance by 1.2% with 39,317 more tickets sold in 2016 than in 2015. Musical Theatre experienced significant growth in 2014 due to the significant increase in the number of major musical performances. Musical Theatre has experienced growth in revenue and attendance each year since 2014.

Growth in the Musical Theatre category can be attributed to an increase in the number of performances by major musical productions including Aladdin, Matilda the Musical, The Sound of Music, Kinky Boots, Little Shop of Horrors, My Fair Lady and many others.

Although Victoria experienced a slight decline in revenue (3.7%) and increase in attendance (3.2%) it still generated the highest market share of revenue (37.2%) and attendance (37.3%) in Musical Theatre. Major musicals that performed in Victoria included Kinky Boots, Matilda the Musical and The Sound of Music. NSW experienced an increase in revenue by 15.5% and in attendance by 5.4% primarily driven by performances of major musicals taking place including My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and Aladdin. WA and SA experienced significant increases in revenue (52.6% and 67.1% respectively) and attendance (63.6% and 74.6% respectively). Major musicals that performed in WA included The Lion King, The Sound of Music and Little Shop of Horrors. Major musicals that took place in SA included CATS, Ghost the Musical, Singin’ in the Rain, Little Shop of Horrors and The Sound of Music.

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Musical Theatre - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2016)

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%

*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 (2016)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Change from 2015 Attendance Market Share Proportion Change from 2015
NSW $125,214,539 36.0% 15.5% 1,126,562 34.2% 5.4%
VIC $129,198,499 37.2% -3.7% 1,230,303 37.3% -3.2%
QLD $38,994,129 11.2% -30.2% 402,616 12.2% -30.1%
WA $35,775,176 10.3% 52.6% 339,523 10.3% 63.6%
SA $16,570,468 4.8% 67.1% 169,361 5.1% 74.6%
ACT $1,929,447 0.6% -2.9% 29,612 0.9% 6.5%
TAS $0 0.0% -100.0% 0 0.0% -100.0%
NT $2,038 0.0% -83.9% 74 0.0% -83.8%

Photo: The Sound of Music - Gordon Frost Organisation, James Morgan

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