West End Theatre boasts another record-breaking year of box office figures

Box office figures released for 2016

The Society of London Theatre have announced 2016 Box Office figures that shed light on the ever-growing London theatre industry.

Throughout 2016, a total of 8,132,673 people attended a musical, generating £400,812,904 in revenue. A further 4,181,318 people attended a play, with attendance at Opera, Dance, Performance and Entertainment was 2,014,130, up 15% on 2015.

Across the industry Box Office reporting showed a gross revenue of £644,719,639, up 1.7% compared to 2015, with the average price paid for a ticket standing at £45 (an increase of 4.68%). These figures have generated VAT receipts for the Treasury of £107,453,273.

Attendance across the SOLT West End venues was down 2.8% year on year to 14,328,121 audience members. The number of total available performances however was down 5.95% on 2015, with 17,881 total performances and 276 new productions opening throughout the year.

In total the West End saw 76.7% of available seats filled, rising 4.1% compared to 2015 and setting a new record. The most popular week of the year was in between Christmas and New Year, with 439,103 people attending a performance in the week commencing 26 December 2016.

Caro Newling, President of the Society of London Theatre, said: "With our shows performing to record numbers, the box office figures for 2016 further cement London's place as a world-leader in theatre. Revenues are just one measure of success; what we are most proud of is that new generations of theatre-goers are drawn to the capital, home of the world's greatest creative talent, by our peerless ability to craft and tell the stories that resonate."

Box Office figures are compiled on behalf of the industry by the Society of London Theatre, and relate to all the major theatres, both commercial and grant-aided, in central London.