Theatres

Theatres

Case studies
Ø Alexandra Theatre
Ø Birmingham Rep
Ø Birmingham Hippodrome


What are the different entertainment opportunities held at a theatre to attract different types of customers:
Ø Local dance school performances
Ø Stage productions – comedy, drama,
Ø Pantomime – Dick Whittington, Cinderella
Ø Children – Playdays, Chuckle Brothers
Ø Musicals – Oliver, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Lion King, We will Rock you, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, West Side Story
Ø Opera
Ø Celebrity Speakers
Ø Education events – Poetry Live

How can a visit to the theatre be both Leisure and Tourism

Ø Leisure: Done in leisure time, watching a play is part of the Arts and entertainment component of leisure
Having a drink or meal at the theatre is part of the Catering component.

Ø Tourism - involves going to a place where you don’t usually live. People may use on line travel services to book a West End theatre break which will include staying in a London Hotel and travelling to the theatre


Reasons people are attracted to the theatre:

*Live performance
*Audience gets involved
*Details of costumes
*Setting
*variety of shows

Case Study - Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Birmingham

The theatre caters for different groups of people by:
*A variety of shows to suit all ages and tastes, Our House, Cabaret, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe
*Prices, pricing structure which varies according to day, time of performance with concessions for students, Rep Club members,
* group discount packages for schools and other groups
* For customers with limited mobility there is a drop off point located between the REP and the ICC. There is also limited parking for orange badge holders. Ramps and automatic doors lead into the building. The Box Office, Cloakroom, toilets, bar and kiosk are all at ground level and the restaurant may be reached via a ramp. Lift access is also available
* Auditorium has 6 wheelchair spaces on the ground floor and two on the mezzanine level.
* Discounted seats are provided for disabled customers and complimentary tickets for companions assisting a disabled customer are available.
* Accessible adapted toilets are also provided on the ground and mezzanine floors.
* providing hearing assisted facilities.
* providing BSL sign language interpreted performances. The signer is situated on the right hand side as you face the stage. Specific seats with a clear view of the signer are reserved.
* Captioned performances. Captioning gives people who are hard of hearing access to the live performance. The actor's words appear on a screen at the same time as they are spoken.
* Audio description. This service gives blind and visually impaired audiences a description, through headphones, of the action on stage interspersed between actors dialogue. Customers are also invite to arrive half an hour before the start of the performance when the describers will read the programme notes. Audio file of the programme notes are also provided before a visit.
* Touch tours. This gives visually impaired customers and opportunity to familiarise themselves with the set and costumes before the show to enhance their enjoyment of the production.
* Guide dogs are welcome into the theatre performance or alternatively may be cared for by a member of staff.
* Brochures are available in large print and audio format.
* corporate entertaining and Corporate Membership

Theatres are financed by:
*Sponsors
*Ticket sales
*Art council grants

Other things that are staged other than shows are:
*Season launch events
*Musical events
* education events - talking about the background to a play, staging of a production
* Open days for families
* production talks - how a set is created and special effects used in a production
*Ballet shows, musicals


Products:
*Programs
* Production merchandise
*Food
*Drink, bar, Wine REPublic
*Souvenirs
*restaurant

Services:
*Box office
*Ushers
*Bar staff
*Restaurant
*Washroom facilities
*Cloakroom
*Website and online booking facility