WEST END THEATRE AUDIENCES DOWN 10% IN FIRST QUARTER 2011
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[**London West End**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/) box office returns were down 6% in the first quarter of 2011, according to figures released by SOLT, the **Society of London Theatre**.
From January 1 to March 31, box office revenue dropped by 6%, while attendances were down by 10%, compared to the same period last year.
Interviewed by **The Stage newspaper**, **Society of London Theatre** chief executive **Julian Bird** said; “I’m not worried about it at the moment - over the first half of the year it will be a bit more of a [fair] test because we will begin to see whether the change in consumer spending and tax rates really make a difference or not.”
Bird added: “On attendance, we were just over 10% down but that reflects the fact that we had some dark theatres and Easter wasn’t in Q1, as it was last year. In terms of revenue, we’re 6% down. There is a cause for optimism, with Easter falling into the first bit of Q2, and we know there was a strong Easter.
“It is a testing time for people but there are some very strongly performing shows across the West End and across all genres, with some very exciting shows about to open - the next few weeks have an absolute slew of new openings.”
One new show hoping to bring audiences back to the West End is [**Ghost the Musical**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/862/Ghost-The-Musical-tickets.aspx) at the [**Piccadilly Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/12/Piccadilly-Theatre.aspx) which is already set to be a big hit.