WE JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR A BRILLIANT AFTERNOON. OUR MEMBERS HAD A GREAT TIME AND SAID WHAT AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE TOUR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUE GAVE THEM. ”
Theatre tour group booker
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND WONDERFUL SERVICE. THE BOX IS GREAT AND I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA CHAIR BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO ME. THE WAY YOU HANDLED MY HEALTH CONDITION AND DISABILITY WAS SUPER PROFESSIONAL AND YOU REALLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO ACCESSIBILITY. ”
Box Office customer
WE ALSO GREATLY ENJOYED (IF THAT’S THE RIGHT WORD!) SHELLSHOCKED. A DEEPLY DISTURBING AND CHALLENGING PLAY, BRILLIANTLY ACTED. ”
Audience member
WE ATTENDED THE PANTO ON 18TH JAN AT 12PM AND I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE LOVELY VOLUNTEER STAFF WHO SUPPORTED US AT THE PERFORMANCE. WE WERE A MIXED PARTY OF VERY ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES AND MY WHEELCHAIR USING DAUGHTER AND EVERYONE WAS WONDERFUL. PLUS, WE LOVED THE PANTO, AS EVER! ”
Audience member
Audience member “ “ “ “ “
THANK YOU FOR ORGANISING THE CELEBRATION OF HARROGATE THEATRE’S 125TH BIRTHDAY. IT WAS A SPLENDID EVENING AND THE ‘GOODY BAGS’ WERE AN EXCELLENT WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED FROM THE START.
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLEASED THAT SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE STAYED FOR THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH THE CAST. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HEAR THEM TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND, IN PARTICULAR, IT GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THEIR TIME AT HARROGATE THEATRE. IT CAME ACROSS SO STRONGLY THAT THEY FELT THAT IT WAS ‘FAMILY’. I HAVE HEARD THIS SO MANY TIMES DURING MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE THEATRE. ”
Welcome
From Ann M Green CBE, Chair
HAVING JOINED THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS THE NEW CHAIR FROM APRIL THIS YEAR, I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PEN A FEW WORDS FOR THE 2024/2025 ANNUAL REVIEW.
We live in challenging times – something of an understatement! But the cultural world, especially from the theatre perspective struggles by, meeting those challenges which include reduced funding availability, shrinking creative performance opportunities and everchanging audience dynamics.
Theatres contribute significantly to cultural economies, providing jobs and attracting tourism whilst boosting surrounding businesses like restaurants and hotels and acting as cultural anchors, building engagement within communities.
Despite this importance, theatres remain an economically vulnerable art form.
Our own theatre will continue to face challenges to acquire funds whilst fluctuating audience and economic downturns affect our sustainability.
Corporate sponsorship can be a lifeline for us and requires developing partnerships, building mutual trust, expert strategic planning and a ‘can do’ attitude.
The hearts and minds of all our staff are ready and willing to meet the challenges ahead and will be guided by our dynamic and resourceful Trustees.
We are confident that, with the continued support of our loyal audiences and with growing support from the business community, our theatre and all it has to offer will grow from strength to strength.
We will build an exciting plan to provide a long term sustainable future for our theatre. Thank you for the part you will play!
Overview of performances
258 performances over 12 months
£3,181,870
Total income in 24/25 (£3,539,736 23/24)
30,356
Total bookers in 24/25 (142,403 23/24)
£26.29
Average ticket yield (23/24 £25.82)
74%
Average attendance
115,112
total tickets sold in 2024/2025 (142,403 23/24)
Audiences flocked to Harrogate Theatre events in their thousands, enjoying the wide range and high calibre of artists we programme.
The theatre is operated by the Harrogate (White Rose) Theatre Trust team who programme events not just at Harrogate Theatre but also at the Royal Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre and in step-free spaces across the town.
Harrogate is incredibly lucky to have a number of brilliant community theatre groups who bring fantastic performances and well-known titles to our stages and enable so many people to experience the joy of taking part.
11,550
This year we have welcomed:
THE MECHANICALS (APR)
HOME, I’M DARLING (JUN)
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (OCT)
WOMAN IN MIND (FEB)
Harrogate Dramatic Society
SISTER ACT (APR)
Ripon Amateur Operatics Company
MADE IN DAGENHAM (JUN)
HOPS Musical Theatre Company
GREASE (OCT)
Harrogate St. Andrew’s Players
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (DEC)
Woodlands Dramatic Society
WIZARD OF OZ (MAR)
Harrogate Phoenix Players
Beauty and the Beast
November 2024 - January 2025
“I AM NOT SAYING THAT IF I DID HAVE A STAR SYSTEM, I WOULD GIVE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST FIVE STARS, FAR FROM IT, I WOULD PROBABLY ALLOCATE IT AT LEAST EIGHT!”
Stan Graham, Tyke It To The Limit
PANTO SPONSORS
Written by
with additional material by
97% of the audience rated the performance as good or very good
Yorkshire Post
THIS MONSTER HIT IS THE FIVE-STAR SHOW OF CHARLESHUTCHPRESS’S WINTER TOUR OF THE NORTH.” Charles Hutchinson review
DAZZLING PANTO EXPERIENCE” AND A BEAUTY FROM BEGINNING TO END” Audience member
7,851 ice creams sold
Directed by
David Bown & Phil Lowe
Marcus Romer, Tim Stedman
Michael Lambourne
Marcus Romer
Beauty and the Beast’s path to true love was a tale as old as time, drawing huge audiences to Harrogate Theatre. We were also thrilled to be awarded Best Christmas Experience by the Harrogate Mumbler Awards 2024 for the previous year’s pantomime, Dick Whittington for the second year running.
938 tickets sold to youth groups
7,167 tickets sold to 60 local schools and nurseries
31,790 total tickets sold
Creative engagment
2024/2025
Harrogate Youth Theatre
children and young people aged 5 – 18 took part
Harrogate Youth Theatre continued to deliver high-quality theatre-based activity to children and young people aged 5 – 18 throughout the year. Participants develop selfesteem, engage their imaginations, create long lasting friendships and learn to think flexibly as they create characters and adapt performances.
School Engagement
Catchment areas (white) included showing area of influence
12 After School Clubs
16 After School Club performances
By operating After School Clubs directly from primary schools across the town & district at a subsidised price, we are proud to be widening access to theatre for pupils from a range of backgrounds, experiences and ability.
‘WE WERE SO IMPRESSED BY THE PRODUCTIONS. A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK AND PREPARATION HAD OBVIOUSLY GONE INTO THEM AND IT PAID OFF. WE’RE ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR’S PERFORMANCES!’
Harrogate Youth Theatre parent
‘I LIKE HOW YOU GUIDE US WITHOUT TELLING US WHAT TO DO. YOU MAKE US PART OF ONE BIG GROUP AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY.’
Harrogate Youth Theatre participant
‘I’M PROUD WE MANAGED TO MAKE A BIG PIECE OF DRAMA AND THAT EVERYONE BROUGHT THEIR IDEAS. THERE WAS NO ONE WHO DIDN’T HAVE AN IDEA IN THE SHOW!’
Harrogate Youth Theatre participant
Across the year all age groups had the opportunity to work towards performances, either on Harrogate Theatre’s Main Stage or in the Studio Theatre as they presented both new and re-imagined classics with humour, talent and dedication. Harrogate Youth Theatre provides an inclusive environment where creativity and confidence flourishes.
The Creative Engagement Department has been generously supported by Bramalls Foundation, Cone Exchange, Harrogate Brigantes Rotary, North Yorkshire Council and donations made through the Big Give Christmas and Arts For Impact campaigns.
HARROGATE
KILLINGHALL
BISHOP THORNTON
PANNAL
12
15,216 hours volunteered
3,804 duties
Ushers / Operations
Harrogate Theatre is incredibly fortunate to have a large volunteer team of ushers who provide a warm welcome to all visitors, ably directing patrons around the building, selling ice creams and confectionery and helping the team to tidy up after each performance.
We’re incredibly thankful that they give their time and help us to welcome over 115,000 visitors to our events each year.
Storytime at Harrogate Library
Harrogate Theatre delivers a monthly Storytime at Harrogate Library to nurture a love of performing stories and introduce theatre to young families. The Storytime sessions have built positive relationships with parents/guardians and very young children.
Get Wed
July 2024
Written by Rachael Halliwell
Directed by Amie Burns-Walker
HARROGATE THEATRE JOINED FORCES WITH ALL POINTS NORTH TO BRING GET WED TO THE STAGE; A BOLD, JOYFUL CO-PRODUCTION THAT BUILT ON THE MOMENTUM OF OUR GATE (2021) AND 122 LOVE STORIES (2022).
Set against the colourful backdrop of the 1980s, Get Wed told the story of Jess and Daniel, two fifty-somethings who, after just twelve weeks together, decide to tie the knot. With Eurovision hits, 80s anthems, and plenty of family drama, audiences were swept up in a hilarious and heart-warming celebration of love in all its forms.
The chance to be part of Get Wed was opened to the whole of Harrogate and beyond, inviting anyone with a passion for theatre to get involved, from those with a keen interest in performing to those with an eye for prop-making, costumes, or technical support. Performers ranged in age from 16 to 60, creating a dynamic mix of generations.
Behind the scenes, Get Wed also launched three technical apprenticeships, giving invaluable hands-on experience in video capture. These apprenticeships offered a vital pathway into the creative industries, nurturing the next generation of technicians.
The production sold out across its five-night run and proved to be Harrogate Theatre’s most inclusive and accessible community show yet, with audio description, captioning, wheelchair access, and a streamed online option.
Partnerships with Disability Arts Online, Mind the Gap, Harrogate Homeless Project, and Harrogate Skills 4 Living further cemented the production as a genuine community collaboration.
‘IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS SUCH A BALL OF ENERGY; A CELEBRATION OF THE TOWN AS WELL - THEY REALLY BROUGHT HARROGATE INTO IT!’
‘IT’S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH A VARIETY OF FIRSTTIMERS, PART TIME ACTORS AND PROFESSIONAL ACTORS - I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO’S WHO!’
‘THE WAY THEY TRANSFORMED THE THEATRE INTO THE WEDDING WAS GREAT!’
‘IT FELT LIKE BEING PART OF AN AMAZING, SLIGHTLY UNHINGED BUT FABULOUSLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.’
‘IT’S BEEN AWESOME. AMIE HAS SUCH INFECTIOUS ENERGY AND RACHAEL’S WRITING IS BRILLIANT, SO I’VE LOVED IT - AND WE GET TO PARTY!’
‘IT WAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE GETTING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO CREATE A GREAT, WONDERFUL, UPLIFTING PIECE OF THEATRE - IT WAS A JOYOUS PROCESS!’
‘IMMERSIVE THEATRE IS COMPLETELY NEW TO ME AND I ENJOYED EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS...
THE CAST ARE AMAZING.’
Moving forward 25/26
As we look ahead to 2025/2026 there’s a lot to be optimistic about but we are facing a significant financial challenge. On average we receive just 20% of each ticket price. With rising bills and shrinking public funding we are reliant upon our audiences and local businesses who understand the power and the incredible impact of live performance to show their support.
There are so many ways you can help us to deliver our outstanding programme of work and creative opportunities for Harrogate’s residents, businesses and visitors alike.
If you love all things Harrogate Theatre then consider becoming a Member in our refreshed Membership Scheme. For a small annual fee you’ll contribute to our fundraising targets but also receive personalised ticket offers and treats along the way. Visit www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/getinvolved/support-us/ to find out more.
If you would like to make a larger donation, leave a legacy, or sponsor a seat in the auditorium drop Natalie Rawel, Head of Marketing & Development an email at natalie.rawel@harrogatetheatre.co.uk
As a business you could sponsor our extensive work with young people, support us in kind to upgrade our front of house facilities or technical equipment, or maybe your business would love a mention in the pantomime?
Get in touch with Natalie Rawel, Head of Marketing & Development at natalie.rawel@harrogatetheatre.co.uk to arrange a chat to find out more.
We are so grateful for the time you spend with us and your ongoing support. Thank you.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our success in the past year. Whether you’ve bought a ticket, been on a theatre tour, taken part in a workshop, performed on our stages, worked backstage, given up your time to volunteer as an usher or as a Board member, become a White Rose Member or sponsored our work, we are truly grateful for your support.
