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Scarborough Open Air Theatre Aims to Increase Number of Shows

Thursday, 5 December 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

There were 18 concerts in 2024 and councillors have been asking why there weren't more.

Is Scarborough's Open Air Theatre getting "short changed" by artists and promoters?

Eastfield Councillor Tony Randerson has asked that question, he says the OAT's 18 concerts in 2024 doesn't match up to other Live Nation venues like the Piece Hall in Halifax which regularly host up to 30 shows per season.

North Yorkshire Council's head of venues, Stuart Clark, says part of the reason could be that the OAT deal offers less financial risk to the council than at other locations.

Stuart Clarke, says that securing acts for the OAT is a complex process with several factors influencing the number of bookings, he says they are working on bring more acts to Scarborough next year, but says it's not always easy to fit in with national tours.

Stuart Clarke highlighted the challenges of artist availability and touring schedules, noting that three potential acts recently pulled out of the 2025 season and one cancellation in 2024 involved a planned eight-day run of a West End show, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of securing bookings.

Stuart Clarke emphasised that the OAT team actively engages with Live Nation, Cuffe and Taylor's parent company, on a weekly basis to attract more shows. He stated that the goal is to increase the number of shows in 2024 and reach 20 bookings in 2025. The long-term ambition is to host 25 to 30 shows per season.

While the number of shows at the OAT is lower than some comparable venues, the venue has seen significant growth in recent years. The 2024 season saw a record-breaking 116,606 tickets sold across 18 shows. This is the highest number of tickets sold in a single season since the venue's reopening in 2010.

The council say that the partnership with Cuffe and Taylor has enabled the OAT to attract high-profile acts that were previously beyond the council's budget and this has resulted in significant economic benefits for the town, estimated to be nearly £10 million.

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