The results from the annual Theatre Survey from theatrebreaks.co.uk are published today with UK theatregoers establishing themselves as Les Mis loving, Jason Donovan fans who like a drink!
Over 1400 theatregoers from around the United Kingdom responded to the survey which focused on celebrity stars and ticket prices.
Asked to name the biggest star they had seen at the theatre, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat star, Jason Donovan, same out top, receiving almost twice as many mentions as his nearest rival, original The Phantom of the Opera star, Michael Crawford.
Jason Donovan
“ Stars are a considerable motivating factor for going to the theatre, ” admits Simon Harding at of Theatrebreaks.co.uk, “ but surprisingly less so amongst those who go to the theatre less often. It is the regular theatregoers, who are most tempted by a star name. ”
This potentially contradicts the established wisdom that these stars help to encourage new audiences.
The “super-fans” also pay the most when it comes to ticket prices: up to £86 as opposed to only £58 per ticket paid by folks who go less than once a year. However they do tend to save their money at the interval being the only folks to prefer just having a chat at the interval rather than heading to the bar!
But across the board, theatregoers are a conservative bunch. When asked for the show that they want to see next, 30-year-old Les Miserables took the crown, with long-runners Disney’s The Lion King, Jersey Boys and Wicked also featuring in the top 10 with Kinky Boots, the musical adaptation of the hit British comedy of the same name, the highest ranking show that has opened within the last 12 months: 5thoverall and 2ndamongst the most regular theatregoers.
Theatrebreaks.co.uk is the travel website owned by St Albans Travel Service. The family owned company has been arranging theatre trips since it started Theatre Rail Club, 35 years ago.
Kinky Boots London – Killian Donnelly, Amy Lennox, Matt Henry – Photo by Matt Crockett
Further information go to http://www.theatrebreaks.co.uk/theatre-survey-stars-shows-ticket-prices/
