British theatre is beating Broadway – but still has one massive problem | Ents & Arts News

Theatre is enjoying a renaissance across the UK, welcoming more people to live events than ever before, but over a third of organisations say they still expect to operate at a deficit this year.

A new report by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre shows record audiences in 2025, with over 37 million people attending theatres across the country,

The West End welcomed a record-breaking 17.64 million – almost three million more than Broadway.

The findings support the theory that as digital content expands, and AI continues to integrate itself into almost every element of our daily life, shared, live experiences have become more relevant than ever.

Data also showed the UK’s theatre attendance reflected the full occupational spectrum of the population, largely mirroring the census – busting the myth that theatre is a niche pastime.

But the glowing figures mask a growing financial strain.

Why is British theatre still in the red?

While production budgets have soared, venues have largely held ticket prices steady, with the across the UK resting at £41, and most West End tickets sold for £56 or less.

Many theatres also offer free or subsidised ticket schemes.

The resulting squeeze means 36% of theatres forecast an operating deficit this year, rising to 51% in the subsidised sector.

Many will be forced to cut things like new work, community programmes, or regional tours.

The report flags the importance of theatres within the civic infrastructure, training the writers, directors, designers, and performers who power the wider creative industries, sustaining local high streets and supporting over 100,000 full-time jobs.

Figures showed 95% of theatres deliver programmes that contribute to social good, 86% run workshops with local schools, and 83% provide tickets specifically for local schools.

The report calls for targeted policy changes to stabilise the sector and unlock further growth, including reforming business rates for theatres, strengthening theatre tax relief to support touring productions, introducing stronger incentives for philanthropy, and ensuring public funding settlements keep pace with inflation.

It says such interventions would not be a subsidy, but an investment in a sector that already delivers substantial economic and social returns.

For every £1 spent on a theatre ticket, £1.40 of further spending flows into surrounding restaurants, pubs, and shops, the report says.

‘Rising costs on every front’

Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, co-CEOs of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: “Theatres across the UK are entertaining millions of people and producing work that inspires audiences around the world. Every day, our members are also running education programmes, supporting young people, and bringing communities together through live performance.

“The public appetite for theatre is clear. But the organisations that make it possible are facing rising costs on almost every front. The challenge now is ensuring this success is sustainable, so theatres across the country can continue creating new work, supporting jobs, and reaching audiences everywhere.”

SOLT and UK Theatre represent theatre producers, managers, owners, and operators across London and the UK.