Key members wanted to pull show in May 2022

KEY people involved in Toy Show the Musical were so worried about ticket sales they discussed pulling the show in May 2022, the review into the ill-fated production reveals.

One was so concerned about the poor sales they asked another team member ‘if there would be any consideration given to pulling the show given the low level of interest?’

They told the Grant Thornton review into the debacle: ‘I fully expected a really strong reaction to the tickets going on sale and 3,000 tickets out of 108,000 was very disappointing.’

Another team member said: ‘We were locked in at that stage, reputationally, every other way. The costs were largely committed. We were up and running. I think it wouldn’t have been tenable to have pulled it.’

The report also reveals how there was a hugely skewed business plan drawn up for the production, which predicted it would make in excess of €6m over three years.

Three years of summary financials show total revenue projections of €2,084,120 for the first year; €2,124,120 in year two; and €2,254,278 in year three. However, these projections were based on a higher number of shows than actually happened. An executive board meeting on March 1, 2022 projected that, with 44 shows, it would break even with a ticket sale rate of 80%.

In a so-called ‘combo meeting’ of executive board members and full board members on March 29, it was projected that, with 54 shows and a 70% ticket sale rate, the show would break even.

But the report found that at no time were there more than 35 shows on sale to the public.

RTÉ board members have resisted calls to resign and have said they are willing to appear at the PAC to discuss the debacle.

However, Media Minister Catherine Martin said the board should remain ‘for now’.