National Theatre's Annual Review 2016–17 Reports Best-Attended Programme in 12 Years

The National Theatre has released its Annual Review for 2016-17. Click here to access the 2016-17 annual report in full!

Highlights Include:

o On the Southbank the NT played to 93% capacity - the best-attended programme in 12 years

o In the six months since April 2017 we have played to 89% capacity

o There was a broad programme of new and classic work speaking to the present moment

o New work included The Flick, The Suicide, LOVE, Another World and My Country

o Classic work with contemporary resonance included The Threepenny Opera, Amadeus, Hedda Gabler and Twelfth Night

o In less than two years, 50% of all state secondary schools have signed up to the NT's free service, On Demand In Schools
--> Two-thirds of subscribed schools are outside London and the South East

o Thanks to plans put in place last year, by the end of 2017-18 the NT will have toured six productions to 36 towns and cities across the UK for a total of 115 touring weeks

o We're here because we're here touched millions of people across the UK, and demonstrated theatre's power and potential to engage a diverse, nationwide audience - winning 15 awards

o We're here because we're here inspired us to create a bold touring and participation programme to reach new audiences and support theatre-making around the country

Lisa Burger, Executive Director of the National Theatre said: "2016-17 was a vintage year for the National Theatre. It was wonderful to see large and enthusiastic audiences come to see shows that ranged from Mike Longhurst's magnificent Amadeus, to Alexander Zeldin's powerful and moving LOVE. We embarked on a period of intense touring of live theatre - by the end of this year six productions will have visited 36 cities for a total of 115 weeks. On top of that we expanded our nationwide Learning programme and developed a bold new touring and participation project. It's been quite a year, with more yet to come."

At the National Theatre, we make world-class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring. And we make it for everyone. In 2016-2017 we staged 24 productions, gave 2,500 performances and had a UK paying audience of 1.8 million. We aim to appeal to the widest possible audiences with new plays, musicals, re-imagined classics and new work for young audiences. Our work is seen in the West End, on tour throughout the UK and internationally, and in collaborations and co-productions with partners across the country. Through National Theatre Live, we broadcast some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 60 countries around the world. Our extensive Learning programme offers talks, events and workshops for people of all ages, and reaches nationwide through programmes such as Connections, our annual festival of new plays for schools and youth theatres. In 2016-2017 there were almost 200,000 participations through the NT Learning events programme. Over 50% of state schools have signed up to the free streaming service, On Demand. In Schools, since its launch in September 2015.

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