Theatre Touring Drops 70% in England, Report Warns of Crisis

Theatre touring performances in England have dropped by 70%, according to a new report commissioned by Arts Council England. The report warns the decline will reach a 'critical level without intervention.'

The independent review found the performing arts touring sector is under severe strain, with activity declining in many areas. This comes despite continued growth in some large-scale commercial touring productions.

The crisis mirrors problems hitting theatres worldwide. In the United States, regional theaters are staging fewer shows, giving fewer performances, and laying off staff as they struggle to recover from the pandemic. Some American theaters have closed permanently.

Touring theatre brings professional productions to smaller cities and towns that don't have their own major theatres. The steep decline means many communities could lose access to live performances entirely.

The report highlights growing financial pressures on touring companies, though it notes some commercial productions continue to succeed.