The recently finalised London Theatre Report, which has been described as the “most comprehensive” study that has ever been published on the size, number and location of theatres in the capital, includes a number of interesting findings. Unlike previous reports, it includes data from non-West End theatres and the fringe too.
Co-commissioned by the Society of London Theatre and the National Theatre, the report shows that in 2012/13, a total of £619 million was spent on theatre tickets by 22 million people in London – up from an estimated £609 million in 2011/12. The report also reveals that at any one time, London’s professional theatres are engaging 3,141 performers, with more than 6,600 people working full-time in offstage or backstage roles. Only 20% of performers are paid national minimum wage in the fringe sector, with around a third being paid nothing at all.
It is hoped the data from within London Theatre Report will be used to conduct meaningful conversations with arts policymakers, so the value of London theatre can be properly reflected, as well as becoming an annual publication. The report maps venues’ size, range and engagement, and considers the activity of all professional theatres across London.
There are 241 professional theatre spaces in London, with more than 110,000 seats. The largest space used for theatre is the Coliseum, with 2,359 seats, while the smallest professional theatre is the Lord Stanley pub in Camden, with 30 seats. Commercial theatre accounts for more than half of all capacity in London, with 56,000 seats in 59 venues. 12 of the largest London venues engage more than 900 performers, equating to almost a third of performers across the capital.