White Rock doubles attendances

Figures released in a council report looking at the first year of operation by Clear Channel shows a huge increase in attendances.

The media giant won a 10-year contract to run the venue on behalf of the council at a subsidy of 500,000 after years of poor audiences and unpopular programming.

Clear Channel took over in May 2002 with the company's programme coming into full swing a couple of months later.

And the transformation has been remarkable.

Just over 10,000 people watched the 27 performance in the first half of 2002, but in the same period this year there was 30 performances with 20,631 people buying tickets.

That translates as an average house of 687 '” about two-thirds full.

Departing manager Jeff Jones, who is replaced by Paul Ryan from Clear Channel's Felixstowe theatre next week, said the quality of the programme was the number one reason for more people coming into the venue.

He said: "We are really pleased an extra 10,000 people came to the theatre. We would probably expect another increase of about 3,000 again next year.

"It really is a combination of the strength of the programming and it can't be underestimated the contributions that Peter Hunt, our marketing officer, and Beatrice Cole, our education officer, have made.

"This venue has never had a person looking after the marketing interests of the theatre. He can spend more time with a promoter, making sure we are reaching the right people."

Mr Jones added the marketing officer has identified youth shows as particularly good performers, with pop act Blazin' Squad selling out last month.

However, more upmarket shows, such as Ellen Kent Opera, and popular entertainers like Derren Brown, have also performed well.

n A full report on how the theatre has performed under Clear Channel's management will be presented to the council's cabinet at a meeting in the White Rock's Sussex Hall on Monday at 6.30pm.