Theatre hit as sales fall

The recession has hit ticket sales at Cannock's theatre with audiences eight per cent down in the first six months of

2009-2010.

Income fell 5.7 per cent – £11,024 – on the same period last year.

It follows a rise in the number of seats sold over the previous two years.

The number of tickets sold for shows at Cannock's theatre was up by nearly 7,000 in 2008-2009. Total seats sold at the Prince of Wales Centre rose from 40,460 in 2007-2008 to 47,239.

Cannock Chase Council director of organisational development Tony McGovern is presenting a report on the theatre to the council scrutiny committee on December 7.

Councillors have asked for an update on the progress of the 427-seat theatre which is available for hire on 364 days a year.

The number of days it was used rose from 203 in 2007-2008 to 237 last year and Mr McGovern will report that the rise in activity has seen more people visiting the theatre.

A user survey is to be carried out at the Prince of Wales Centre next month. It will look at the ages of theatre goers, where they come from, how satisfied they are with the theatre and how they get to the theatre.

The committee will hear that the box office in Church Street is open 28 hours a week – 10am-2pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and 10am-4pm on Tuesday and Friday. It also opens an hour before shows.

Councillors will be told that the theatre does not currently have an online booking facility and the addition of that would result in extra capital cost to the council.

The number of people asking for discounted concessions on tickets is also rising. In December 2007 30 per cent asked for it, but in December last year it had risen to 58 per cent.