The manager of The Princess Theatre in Burnham-On-Sea has this week said the facilities have seen another uplift in visitor numbers and revenue after a busy few months.
Manager Julie Hook gave a new update on the facilities during a meeting of the Town Council’s Assets and Amenities Committee on March 25th.
During the last 12 months, 9,313 tickets have been sold, generating a revenue of £139,893.95.
In the same period of last year, 8,216 tickets were sold, generating revenue of £111,032.70.
The manager told town councillors: “It’s been another busy few months for the theatre and we are increasing our visitor numbers and revenue which is really good.”
Julie adds that the theatre’s participation groups – a Community Choir, Indoor Kurling, Open Art Studio, Seated Exercise and Contemporary Creative Textile making sessions – are “well supported” and now attract a combined 650 users.
She adds that the majority of the theatre’s main shows are “getting towards sell-outs each time” and said recent highlights include a popular adult pantomime and 100 Watt Club which both “went down a storm.”
She said this month’s Highbridge Festival of the Arts had been such a “very well organised event,” and that it had “attracted not only local talent but groups of dancers from other parts of the UK.”
Nine ‘Seniors Events’, held at the theatre since June 2024 with grant funding from Hinkley Point C, had been “so popular”, attracting a combined 434 people. The grant received was to be for events until March and so another grant has been applied for, sadly without success, however she said Somerset Community Fund has referred the request to another round of grant applications yet to be considered.
Julie also told this week’s meeting that the owners of the theatre’s Cabaret Café Bar had given notice to vacate on March 20th and a local established company, Cafe Aroma, has since been appointed to take over the running of the cafe and bar on a temporary contract to give continuity of service. She said it has had a busy start.
Councillors welcomed the update, with Cllr Mike Facey saying the progress is “excellent”.
