With other theatres in Liverpool seeing declining audience numbers the Royal Court is bucking the trend with attendances up 11% and revenues rising 37% to £6.6m. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool’s Royal Court theatre is reporting another annual rise in audience numbers and a surge in revenue and surplus.

Accounts for the 12 months to March 31, 2024, just published on Companies House show revenue of £6.6m – up from £4.8m in the previous year. Its surplus totalled £565,297, a big rise from the £60,277 reported a year earlier.

These latest figures come just weeks after LBN revealed Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust, the registered charity that runs the Playhouse in Williamson Square and the Everyman in Hope Street, had seen annual ticket sales fall in the same 12-month period fall to 97,527 from 112,000 in the previous year.

At the Royal Court in Roe Street, which is also run by a registered charity, audience numbers totalled 187,319, up from 168,620 a year earlier. The total includes main stage and studio performances and theatre tours.

When broken down the figures show main stage and studio shows attracted 177,724 people while the tours saw a further 9,595 people come through the door.

The Royal Court has prospered in recent years thanks to the success of a number of Scouse-themed productions and has established a reputation for providing lively, and sometimes raucous, nights out.

In contrast to the Everyman and Playhouse, where shows are often touring productions, the Royal Court focuses much more on showcasing the work of local writers. There is also more emphasis on the night out ‘experience’ with people being served meals.

In its own words, the theatre says: “Royal Court Liverpool is the friendliest theatre in the city. With pre-show dining and a range of drinks served before and after the show, a trip to the Court is a night of great entertainment.

“The theatre produces eight long-running plays every year, mostly comedies and musicals. The shows have a Liverpool theme with largely Liverpool cast and crew. Sets are built in the city at the theatre’s workshops in Everton.

“Rehearsals also take place in Everton and 95% of all money spent by the theatre goes back into the local economy.”

Its best attended show was its Christmas production, The Scouse Dick Whittington, which attracted 55,460 people. Also popular was Alan Bleasdale’s (and James Graham) classic Boys From The Blackstuff, which sold 36,276 tickets.

READ MORE: New bank to open 12 Liverpool city region branches 

As well as main stage and studio shows the Royal Court also offers youth theatre, community choir sessions and performances, peoples player workshops and multiple school visits.

The accounts show the theatre employed 138 people during the year, up from 119 people in the previous year. Food and beverage revenues totalled just over £567,000. It also benefited from grants from the Arts Council and city council totalling more than £350,000.