Barcelona’s theaters have celebrated an exceptional year in 2023, setting an “absolute record” in both spectators and box office takings.
With 2,845,015 spectators and a gross that exceeds 86 million euros, the theater sector in Barcelona has surpassed figures, according to data revealed at an event organized by ADETCA, Associació d’Empreses de Teatre de Catalunya.
Impressive figures in Barcelona’s theaters
These figures represent a significant 1.02% increase in attendance and an impressive 31.02% increase in receipts compared to 2011, when the previous record was set with 2,816,283 spectators and over 65 million in receipts.
Last year’s occupancy rate was 60.43%, highlighting the vitality and continued attractiveness of theatrical productions in Barcelona.
Even theaters with less than 200 spectators have achieved the best records in their history, with a total of 305,413 spectators and almost four million euros in takings. This achievement demonstrates that the diversity of theater sizes contributes to the city’s vibrant theater scene.
Last year’s highlights included performances such as “El Mago Pop” at the Teatre Victòria, “Improshow” at the Teatreneu, “The Producers” at the Tívoli, “L’alegria que passa” at the Poliorama and “FitzRoy” at the Borràs.
The variety of artistic proposals has been a key element in attracting a diverse audience and maintaining high levels of participation.
Acknowledgment and appreciation
At the event organized by ADECTA, President Isabel Vidal expressed her satisfaction with the results obtained, highlighting the spectacular comeback experienced towards the end of the year, especially during the Christmas campaign.
He stressed that spectator confidence has been built over the years thanks to the quality of the works and the commitment of both the public and private sectors. He also took the opportunity to thank the role of the administrations for increasing the budgets allocated to culture.
Future prospects
Despite this significant achievement, Vidal did not focus on additional figures, but mentioned that one of the future goals is to reach three million viewers in a single year.
He also announced the upcoming challenge called “No Empty Seat”, an initiative that seeks to achieve a world record by filling all the seats in Catalan theaters, scheduled for March 16.
The Councilor of Culture, Natàlia Garriga, celebrated these data and highlighted the increase in the budget allocated to private theater companies during the legislature.
For his part, the Secretary of State for Culture, Jordi Martí, pledged to continue working to improve working conditions in the sector and expand the cultural rights of citizens.
All in all, 2023 was a great year for Catalan culture and this new year is expected to maintain or surpass the record.
