Spotlight on theatre’s financial success (From The Northern Echo)

Spotlight on theatre’s financial success

8:11am Friday 22nd August 2008 in

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BOSSES at a North-East flagship arts venue were last night celebrating the release of their annual review which showed turnover has increased by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The report, for the Durham’s Gala Theatre and Cinema, revealed that more than 400,000 people had visited the establishment from April last year to March this year, putting it on a par with the region’s leading attractions.

The turnover during this period was £2.6m compared to £2.3m during the same period the previous year, and £2.2m during 2005-6 – this while the subsidy the Gala received from Durham City Council decreased year on year.

Gala general director Simon Stallworthy said: “The Gala has grown steadily over the past three to four years and we are really pleased.

“It is down to a lot of hard work by the whole team and as part of the city council and working within the council’s cultural services framework.”

Mr Stallworthy said the Gala hoped to continue its success in 2008-9, with more in-house productions – including next month’s Get Off At Gateshead, a play set on Tyneside and written by Durham playwright Ian Skelton.

Durham City Council’s portfolio holder for culture, Councillor Sue Pitts, said: “We are all passionate about the Gala.

“It is succeeding, not just in the terms of its ambitious and imaginative mission statement, but in enhancing the lives of thousands of Durham people.”