Leicester’s Curve theatre is to add 67 seats to its larger auditorium in 2019, taking the seating capacity to 969.
The city council has granted Curve £780,000 for the work. Accessibility will be improved, with five new fixed wheelchair positions being added to the stalls and female toilet facilities significantly increased.
Curve’s 2017-18 review revealed it increased its average attendance by 8%, with occupancy levels reaching 77% overall. The theatre’s Made at Curve produced work and Curve on Tour productions, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s Sunset Boulevard and the world première of Amana Fontanella-Khan’s Pink Sari Revolution, achieved an average of 80% capacity.
The theatre’s turnover exceeded £10.6 million as it toured nine Made at Curve productions nationally and internationally. More than 400 creative learning sessions were provided either at Curve or in the community and almost 500 schools experienced a workshop, performance or activity at Curve.
Chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, “we’re thrilled more than one million people either visited our home in Leicester or saw a Made at Curve co-production on the road.
“Our ambition to create diverse, entertaining and challenging theatre for our communities in the 21st century is always developing; none of this work would be possible without the support of our growing loyal audiences, the dedicated work of the Curve team and our principal funders, Leicester City Council and Arts Council England.”
Ian Squires, chair of Leicester Theatre Trust commented, “I think this report shows what a remarkable asset we have with this theatre in Leicester—a truly national and international stage that has also developed deep roots with our local community through outreach and educational work.
“The addition of more seats in the main theatre offers Curve and its loyal audiences a greater opportunity to bring even bigger shows to town and to secure Curve’s place for the future.”