Cancellation of panto season could cost UK theatre industry £90 million

The Stage has reported that the cancellation of the 2020-21 pantomime season is expected to cost the theatre industry in excess of £90 million in lost revenue, based on ticketing and secondary sales, according to TRG Arts.

For many arts venues, their annual pantomime provides up to 50% of their yearly income, so this dark time over the festive season will see severe box office losses for hundreds of venues across the country.

QDOS pantomimes take over £50 million across their 34 UK productions, with approximately 2 million people watching one of their shows. Not only on a financial level, the lack of pantomime this year means suppliers, freelancers and performers will be out of work.

Theatres who have already announced the postponements of their pantomimes until the 2021-22 season include Birmingham Hippodrome, Blackpool Grand, Hackney Empire, Hull New Theatre, King’s Theatre Edinburgh, Lyric Hammersmith, Mayflower Theatre, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Queens Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Selladoor Worldwide have also announced that its subsidiary company, Prime Pantomimes, will not go ahead this year and 91 members of staff have been made redundant from the company.

Chief Executive David Hutchinson said: “At this time, without guidance on when theatres will be able to fully reopen, we can’t further risk the business. Instead we are focusing on reimagining our business plan and strategising for the future to weather the next stage of this crisis.”