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Performing Arts - UK - December 2014
Introduction
 
The performing arts remain among the UK’s most important entertainment industries and continue to grow audiences and revenues in the face of challenges ranging from evolving leisure habits to government funding cuts.

A record year for London’s West End, growth in digital audiences and the adoption of a more commercial approach by the subsidised sector kept the market moving forward in 2014.

However, anticipated further cuts in public spending combined with a difficult fundraising environment and limitations on many venues’ development potential means yet more creativity will be required to improve significantly on recent trends.

This report examines consumers’ performing arts attendance habits, tracks trends in their spending beyond the venue box office, identifies the most popular incentives to more frequent visiting and looks at how the market can respond to the challenges and opportunities emerging.

Definition 
This report examines the markets for the major performing arts, principally theatre, opera and ballet/dance. Live music concerts are excluded, as these are covered in Mintel’s report Music Concerts and Festivals – UK – October 2014. 

There are a huge number of venues, festivals and producers in this sector, as well as numerous professional and amateur performing arts companies. This report, therefore, focuses primarily on professional, medium to large companies, which tend to be venue-based. 

Data on central London admission trends was kindly supplied by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), which publishes an annual statistical publication, The Box Office Data Report. Details at solt.co.uk.

Value figures throughout this report include VAT unless otherwise stated.

Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland.

Abbreviations
3D | Three-dimensional
ACE | Arts Council England
ATG | Ambassador Theatre Group
BRB | Birmingham Royal Ballet
DCMS | Department for Culture, Media and Sport
DMT | Delfont Mackintosh Theatres
ENO | English National Opera
NT | National Theatre
ONS | Office for National Statistics
RSC | Royal Shakespeare Company
RUG | Really Useful Group
RUT | Really Useful Theatres
SOLT | Society of London Theatre

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