Kellie Shirley played Pauline Clench in Melbourne Theatre Company's One Man, Two Guvnors. Source: News Limited
MELBOURNE Theatre Company had the highest box office in its 60-year history in 2013, selling $13,500,000 of tickets.
The previous record was $12,750,000 set in 2011.
The top five plays for ticket sales were: One Man, Two Guvnors; Rupert; The Crucible; True Minds; and Other Desert Cities.
Artistic director Brett Sheehy said he was "thrilled with the result'', especially given the number of risky initiatives undertaken this year.
"All credit must go to the MTC team who had no additional resources to successfully implement a raft of programs which increased our overall activities by 25 per cent.''
These initiatives include the NEON Festival of Independent Theatre, the company's first family show in a decade (The Book of Everything), and co-presenting the MTC's first international production (One Man, Two Guvnors).
The MTC has also formed alliances with the City of Melbourne, Melbourne Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Tourism Victoria.
MTC executive director Virginia Lovett said the company "had tremendous success in building key collaborations across tourism and public engagement''.
In its inaugural year, the NEON Festival of Independent Theatre was attended by more than 5100 ticket buyers over five shows, generating $121,000 in box office revenue that went to Melbourne independent theatre-makers.
The company's first show for 2014 will be Big Bad Wolf, a school holiday play for ages five plus, running from January 10-25. The play is billed as being about a "friendly, vegetarian wolf who loves poetry'' and Heidi Hood, who is a cousin of Red Riding Hood and has a black belt in Wolfjitsu, and the unlikely friendship they form. Details mtc.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment