New report says ‘government must act’ to ease pressures on British theatres

Attendances are up and average ticket prices down, even in the West End, but the sector faces mounting and unsustainable strain

A report by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, released on Thursday, puts the spotlight on an industry struggling with rocketing production costs and in need of urgent funding. The sister trade associations have called for the government's comprehensive spending review to dramatically increase public investment, including 500m for infrastructure, and to support its Theatre for Every Child initiative which aims to ensure all pupils attend a professional theatre production before leaving school.

The organisations' co-CEOs, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, said: Theatres are doing more with less - and the strain is showing. Rising costs, shrinking support and ageing infrastructure are putting the sector under unsustainable pressure. We are seeing world-class organisations forced to cut programmes, delay maintenance and scale back outreach. If we want to maintain the UK's position as a global leader in theatre - and continue to inspire the next generation of actors, writers, and technicians - then government must act."