Ticket sales fears voiced by groups staging shows

THEATRE groups around Charnwood claim they are facing a “crisis” as ticket sales drop.

One group fears for its future while another has pulled a production and is replacing it with a musical mash-up show instead due to financial worries.

John Lewin, director of Christchurch Theatre Club, which has been running for more than 40 years, contacted the Echo amid concerns over the low number of ticket sales.

Mr Lewin told the Echo the group’s next production, Gypsy, which is to take to the stage in May, has only sold half the amount of tickets CTC usually sell at this time of year.

He said: “We just don’t know why it’s not selling. Gypsy was a massive success on the West End and we’ve got a great cast of known people on the theatre scene.

“It’s really sad because we’re offering good prices and quality productions. It’s sad as it feels like local people aren’t supporting us as much as they used to.

“I don’t think people realise how much it costs to put on a production, you have to pay nearly £10,000 for a licence to perform the show plus the cost of using the Town Hall - so you’re looking at over £20,000 before you’ve even started the show.

“Each show costs about £40,000 to stage and it all has to come from ticket sales.

“It’s a concerning time and we’re doing what we can to promote our shows.

“We can’t afford to continue if this keeps happening. If things don’t pick up this may be our final show - it’s that serious.”

ESNA committee member Nicola Scoggins, who has been with the group since 1989, told the Echo the group has pulled November’s production 9 to 5.

She said: “Societies are struggling, and things are stretched at the minute.

“With 9 to 5 we had to look at what we’re doing to support ourselves financially and what we’re doing to make sure we have a society in the future.

“We’ll be hosting a musical extravaganza instead - Strictly Musicals - that features hits from popular musicals.

“I think there is a crisis. It is a tricky time but we’re doing whatever we can to secure the future of the company.”

Natalie Littlewood, chair of Loughborough Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS), said it is hard to predict what show will sell well.

She said: “Sales is always something all of us worry about. You’re always unsure what’s going to sell and what isn’t.

“The Loughborough audience is difficult to sell to, you speak to some and they’re set in their ways and will only see what they know then others see every brand new show. It’s a tough market to predict.”

Last year the Festival Players, which has been performing since 1954, decided to transfer two plays to Loughborough University as costs rose and additional charges were put in place at the Town Hall.

Chair of the group, Jeremy Malpas, said: “Ticket sales are a concern and they have been for many years. Costs at the Town Hall have been increasing for a number of years and there’s been the VAT introduction.

“We struggle to sell as many tickets at the Town Hall and the costs are so much more so we split our season between the two venues.

“It’s an expensive hobby and at the end of the day people just want to get on stage and entertain.”

A spokesperson from Charnwood Borough Council told the Echo the annual increase charge to hire out the Town Hall, which has been set at five per cent for the past two years, has been frozen this year. But they stated the hire cost of the Town Hall has increased as VAT charges are now in place, following guidance issued by HMRC last year.

The spokesperson said local amateur groups are now supported with additional marketing, including local group seasonal e-shots to coincide with brochure releases, scheduled social media posts and greater social media engagement.

The spokesperson said: “We will continue to work with local amateur dramatic companies to ensure using the Town Hall is as affordable as possible for them.”

The Echo approached Greasepaint Productions for a comment but a response was yet to be received at the time of publication.