Leicester’s Curve theatre has released its 2022/23 Annual Report, detailing one of the theatre’s most successful ever years, with turnover at an all-time high of £17m.
The first full year of in-person performances and activities since the pandemic, across the year Curve welcomed 249,900 audience members to see work on its stages. Under the theatre’s Made at Curve banner of produced and co-produced work, 840,500 tickets were sold at the theatre’s Leicester home, on tour nationally and internationally.
Off-stage, Curve reported more than 30,000 participants of all ages engaged with its learning, community and artist development work, and the theatre continued to inspire local pupils and students, with over 430 schools and colleges attending performances and participating in activities.
2022/23 also saw the first full year of Curve’s Neighbour-Hubs programme, an initiative which aims to develop long-term, meaningful and creative partnerships with schools, SEND and Alternative Education Providers, and Community and Elders groups across five key areas in Leicester city identified as having high levels of deprivation, high levels of ethnic diversity or low levels of engagement with Curve.
Curve continued its commitment to supporting and developing local artists, with over 1,100 creatives, theatre-makers and practitioners taking part in its artist development sessions across the year, and 44 local artists taking part in its New Work Festival.
Speaking about the 2022/23 report, Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “In the first full year we’ve been able to welcome audiences in-person since the pandemic, it’s a testament to all the terrific artists, creatives, practitioners, partners and of course, Team Curve, we can report 2022/23 as arguably Curve’s most successful year to date in so many ways.
“On stage we have shared phenomenal work, and off-stage there is equal cause for celebration, with our community, learning and artist development work thriving.”
Thanks to higher than ever ticket sales at its Leicester home and on tour, Curve has reported a turnover of more than £17m across the year, however, the success comes at a time of increasing costs and further squeezes on audience members’ budgets.
“Whilst we celebrate these highlights,” Stafford and Foster continued, “we must also consider these achievements within the context of a challenging landscape. This year has seen soaring production costs, rising electricity rates (leaving our theatre facing a six-figure bill increase) and a cost of living crisis further squeezing budgets.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to maintain our artistic ambitions, our community engagement programmes and our accessible pricing, but we must acknowledge and be mindful of the fact that we are navigating an exceptionally difficult period.
“We know the next few years will continue to be a challenge for both Curve and our industry, but we remain ambitious and determined for our future success. Our sincere thanks go to Team Curve, our Board of Trustees, our principal funders Arts Council England and Leicester City Council and all of our loyal audiences and supporters – you all play a vital role in making Curve the special place it is.”
