National Theatre reveals record revenues in 2012-13

The National Theatre’s annual report, published today, reveals the venue generated a record income of £87million during 2012-13. The figure is well over double the revenue when Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr took over as artistic and executive director ten years ago.

In 2012-13 the paying audience for National Theatre productions reached 3.6million people worldwide. Attendance averaged 90% on the South Bank (28% of whom were first-time bookers) and 97% for War Horse at the New London Theatre.

The figures are particularly impressive considering that the National's Arts Council funding was cut by 4.4% (following a 7% cut last year) during the period; the reduction in the NT’s subsidy over four years will amount to a 23% decrease in real terms by 2014-15.

Hytner, who steps down next year, said in an accompanying statement: "The National Theatre must now become
ever more dependent on the generosity of its
supporters. It is our phenomenal good fortune
that we have such committed and generous
individual donors, corporate sponsors and
supportive trusts and foundations.

"Without
their help, our repertoire would have shrunk,
our outreach would be a fraction of what it
is, and the work we do outside of our three
theatres – through our Learning department and
at our Studio – would be under severe threat.
I could not be more grateful to all of them,
and we are all aware how much more asking
we will have to do over the coming years."

To read Nicholas Hytner's full statement click here

Other key facts

• The NT staged 26 productions and gave 1,959 performances in London, where it employed 444 actors and musicians. Classics and 20th century revivals included Timon of Athens, Antigone, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Scenes from an Execution and Port. Twelve new works were premiered, ranging from James Graham’s This House and Lucy Prebble’s The Effect to Alan Bennett’s People, Stephen Beresford’s The Last of the Haussmans and Simon Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The National Theatre Inside Out Festival saw activities spilling out onto the riverbank to celebrate the Jubilee and Olympic summer.

• National Theatre Live audiences passed one and a quarter million, with 260 venues in the UK and 350 more abroad in 25 countries; screenings of Curious Incident.., The Last of the Haussmans and People successively set new audience records.

• War Horse celebrated its fifth anniversary in London as well as touring North America and Australia. One Man,Two Guvnors joined War Horse on Broadway and embarked on a second UK tour, playing to 94,000 people in 11 cities, followed by an international tour, while entering its third year in London at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. 866,000 people worldwide saw an National Theatre touring production; by the year’s end, four NT productions were playing simultaneously in the West End.

• Travelex Tickets celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2012; over 1.3million £12 (originally £10) tickets had been sold since 2003. Membership of Entry Pass, our free scheme providing discounted tickets for 16-25-year-olds, reached 42,000; and 53,000 school and college students saw NT productions in London.

• 5,000 young people from 220 schools and youth theatres participated in NT Learning’s nationwide youth programme, Connections. 238,000 attended the Inside Out festival, including audiences of 147,000 for Watch This Space, and over 6,000 people of all ages participated in Learning’s Pop-Up Workshop. There were 12 free exhibitions and 322 free concerts, and 27,000 took backstage tours.

• The Development department raised £7.1million in annual income for revenue activity, as well as £10.5m for NT Future.