Melbourne Theatre Company has reached a new record of over 22,300 subscribers, signifying an impressive milestone for MTC and making it the most subscribed theatre company in the country for the second year running.
The Company has seen a 43% growth in new subscribers compared to 2017, and, to date, nearly 50% of single ticket buyers for the mainstage season are new to the Company.
MTC productions have been in high-demand with season extensions for both The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and An Ideal Husband; three Helpmann Awards for The Children including the coveted awards of Best Play and Best Director for MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes; and critically acclaimed Australian premieres of Gloria and Wild, and the world premiere adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba.
MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy said, ‘It has been a wonderful start to the year at MTC and the vote of confidence from our subscribers who have joined us this year in record numbers, and our many new audiences, speaks volumes.
‘The work on our stages has run the full gamut from international smash-hits to bold new Australian plays, to classics and thrilling contemporary productions. On the technical front, we’ve pushed the boundaries of design and created theatre magic in ways that only our team can achieve.
‘Everything we do is with the audience in mind so it is incredibly rewarding for the whole Company to see our work met with unprecedented audience demand, awards and critical acclaim.’
MTC Executive Director Virginia Lovett said, ‘As one of the lowest government subsidised major performing arts companies, MTC is proud to continue to drive real economic benefit, outreach and education projects throughout Melbourne and Victoria. The net government funding we receive for an entire year is returned five-fold in economic benefit from just one of our 11 productions.
‘We stage over 550 shows a year, perform 49 weeks out of 52 and employ over 500 people annually in the creative industries. MTC is vital for the sector and the State, and our record subscription numbers and successes so far in 2018 clearly demonstrate the significance of the Company to our community.’
In addition to its sought-after productions, MTC is highly regarded for its artist development and education programs which continue to create opportunities in 2018.
MTC is again working in partnership with Distance Education Centre Victoria to run a virtual Drama program for students throughout the state; and the Company’s Women in Theatre Program is supporting another twelve women in their career development this year.
Ten more writers were recently announced as commissions and residents as part of MTC’s $4.6 million NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program and nine new Indigenous Scholarship Program participants from around the country were welcomed to MTC in June.
In the coming weeks MTC will open its Australian premiere production of A Doll’s House, Part 2 on Thursday 16 August and the world premiere and NEON NEXT commission, Working with Children, on Saturday 1 September. MTC’s 2019 Season will be revealed on Tuesday 4 September.
Published on 3 August 2018