West End theatres were boosted by a rise in attendance in 2006, figures showed today.
Ticket revenues broke through the £400 million barrier for the first time thanks to such hit shows as Dirty Dancing and The Sound of Music.
Box office takings totalled £400,802,809 - up nearly 5% on 2005. Advance ticket sales reached an unprecedented £57 million, more than double that of the previous year.
Audience figures hit 12,347,153, up nearly 0.5% on the previous 12 months. The Treasury collected £59 million in VAT receipts. The figures were supplied by The Society of London Theatre.
They showed an upsurge in the last six months of the year, which saw the opening of Dirty Dancing, Spamalot, Wicked and The Sound of Music.
President Rosemary Squire said: "At the six month mark, the industry was braced for a very tough 2006 with audience numbers and visitor numbers to London still depressed.
"That the industry has bounced back so spectacularly gives us great hope for the future and a great boost to the London economy."
