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patrickgracey.bsky.social
Patrick Gracey
@patrickgracey.bsky.social
360 followers 180 following 28 posts
Olivier and Tony Award-winning theatre producer @patrickgraceyltd.bsky.social
Board member. Chair - SOLT & UK Theatre Policy, Research & Advocacy Committee.
www.patrickgracey.com
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patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨New report says ‘government must act’ to ease pressures on British theatres.

"If we want to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in theatre – and continue to inspire the next generation of actors, writers, and technicians – then government must act.”

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...
New report says ‘government must act’ to ease pressures on British theatres
Attendances are up and average ticket prices down, even in the West End, but the sector faces mounting and unsustainable strain
www.theguardian.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:41 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎭British theatre is one of the UK's greatest cultural and economic success stories.

🚨2024 saw record-breaking audiences, but mounting costs and declining public investment risk undermining our entire creative industries!

solt.co.uk/british-thea...
British Theatre: A Global Success Story Under Threat:  - SOLT
New Report Warns of Rising Costs and Shrinking Support Despite Record Audiences  The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre have today published a landmark report revealing a sector […]
solt.co.uk
May 22, 2025 at 8:39 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
Touring is vital to UK theatre’s creative and economic success in Europe – but visas, transport rules & red tape still hold companies back.

Let’s build on today’s progress and enable frictionless touring.
solt.co.uk/solt-uk-thea...
SOLT & UK Theatre welcome EU-UK Statement on Touring - SOLT
Commenting on the statement published after today’s EU-UK Summit, SOLT & UK Theatre Co-CEO Claire Walker said: “Today’s UK-EU summit rightly recognises the importance of cultural exchange and touring ...
solt.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
The creative industries are the foundation of the UK’s cultural identity and economic strength - not merely another dataset to be mined by big tech.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa among artists urging Starmer to rethink AI copyright plans
Hundreds of leading figures from UK creative industries urge prime minister not to ‘give our work away’
www.theguardian.com
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎉London's West End theatres are enjoying record ticket sales and drawing millions of pounds of investment as a pandemic-era tax break that will become permanent next month persuades some producers to choose Britain over Broadway.🎭
www.reuters.com/lifestyle/we...
West End beats Broadway in theatre revival. What's the secret?
London's West End theatres are enjoying record ticket sales and drawing millions of pounds of investment as a pandemic-era tax break that will become permanent next month persuades some producers to choose Britain over Broadway.
www.reuters.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 Theatre access is shrinking, especially in deprived areas. Without public investment, we risk shutting out working-class creatives.

That’s why SOLT & UKTheatre are campaigning for #TheatreForEveryChild - so every child can experience live performance.🎭

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Boosting public funding is the only way to make the arts more inclusive | Letters
Letters: Readers respond to Guardian analysis on how the arts sector is still a barrier for working-class people
www.theguardian.com
February 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 The UK’s creative industries are a powerhouse of innovation, talent, and economic impact.

😱 Without proper safeguards, we risk undermining the very talent that makes the UK a world leader.

💪 Let’s back our artists and keep the UK a world leader in the arts.
www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
Times letters: Protecting UK’s creative copyright against AI
The government’s proposal to exempt Silicon Valley from adhering to creative copyright would smash a hole in the moral right of creator
www.thetimes.com
February 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎫 Beyoncé selling 350,000 tickets in a week? Global news.

🎭 The West End selling 350,000 tickets every week? Barely a mention.

🥳 Queen Bey is a phenomenon - but so is live theatre. Let's celebrate it accordingly!
www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Beyoncé’s tour tickets are breaking the internet — but fixing economies
Tickets for the pop superstar’s Cowboy Carter tour are on general sale, and the anticipation of the economic boost from her shows is mounting
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Patrick Gracey
thestage.co.uk
Acclaimed performers Beverley Knight and Billy Porter are to host the Olivier Awards for the first time this spring 👇 #TheatreNews #TheatreSky
Beverley Knight and Billy Porter to host 2025 Olivier awards
Acclaimed performers Beverley Knight and Billy Porter are to host the Olivier Awards for the first time this spring
www.thestage.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 11:34 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🔥 The brutal yet undeniable truth about the UK arts sector.

💷 The UK’s creative industries are an economic powerhouse and a cornerstone of our national identity. It’s time for bold investment, not neglect.

🎭 Culture isn’t a luxury - it’s essential.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
‘Worse than the 1980s’ – that’s the arts sector now. It’s not a good look for a Labour government | Charlotte Higgins
So many pre-election promises: but still a cultural malaise spreads from our schools to museums, galleries and theatres, says the Guardian’s chief culture writer Charlotte Higgins
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Patrick Gracey
thestage.co.uk
The reunion performance of Six the Musical’s original cast is to be screened in cinemas this spring 👇

www.thestage.co.uk/news/six-hea...
Six heads for cinemas in April featuring original cast
The reunion performance of Six the Musical’s original cast is to be screened in cinemas on April 6 this year
www.thestage.co.uk
January 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
Sometimes a letter to the Editor is the only way.
January 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Reposted by Patrick Gracey
thestage.co.uk
Keir Starmer’s searching for economic growth? Theatre and the arts are ready and willing to do their bit, writes
@lyngardnertheatre.bsky.social 👇

www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/star...
Lyn Gardner: Starmer’s searching for economic growth? The arts are a sure-fire bet
The Labour government will be missing a trick if they do not understand that the arts are ready and willing to make themselves useful and simultaneously bring joy and a return on investment, says Lyn ...
www.thestage.co.uk
January 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎭 The West End is enjoying a theatre revival. Can Broadway keep up?

A brilliant deep dive by Daniel Thomas in the Financial Times explores the decisive shift in the balance of power between London and New York as contenders for the title of world capital of theatre.

on.ft.com/4iZv8wh
The West End is enjoying a theatre revival. Can Broadway keep up?
The trend is a decisive shift in the balance between two cities that have long vied to be the world capital of the stage
on.ft.com
January 3, 2025 at 10:37 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 Consuming culture is good for your health and wellbeing – and generates £8bn a year worth of improvements in people’s quality of life and higher productivity. 🎭 = 💷

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Consuming arts and culture is good for health and wellbeing, research finds
Engaging with arts improves quality of life, increases productivity and creates financial ‘dividend’
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2024 at 1:21 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 Budget hikes to NI and living wage leave theatres facing 'black holes,' risking smaller casts and reduced programming.🎭

💷 Investment is vital to preserve the ambition and diversity that make our theatre world-leading, and to generate growth.✨

www.thestage.co.uk/news/smaller...
Smaller programmes and casts: venues warn of cutbacks in face of cost hikes
Theatres across the UK are warning that cuts to casts and programming are likely as they face cost hikes because of Labour's October Budget
www.thestage.co.uk
December 10, 2024 at 10:28 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎭 THIS! Theatre and the performing arts aren’t just culture - they’re crucial to the UK economy.

From boosting local towns to powering global exports, they fuel the creative industries, attract tourism, supply talent for film/TV, and showcase “Global Britain” to the world. 🌍✨
December 9, 2024 at 11:03 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
Congratulations to Darcy Dixon on winning the Luke Westlake Scholarship, supporting working-class creatives in their final training years.

Having seen her perform at the Go Live Theatre Projects Gala, where she’s also a Trustee, I can vouch for her talent!

www.thestage.co.uk/news/darcy-d...
Darcy Dixon wins Luke Westlake Scholarship 2024
Darcy Dixon has won this year's Luke Westlake Scholarship, which supports working-class creatives in their final years of training
www.thestage.co.uk
December 6, 2024 at 10:35 AM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 Birmingham Hippodrome AD, Jon Gilchrist, has urged the sector to see "financial risk as investment" when it comes to developing new musicals, warning that the UK risks being left behind other countries if it does not act. 🎭
@thestage.bsky.social

www.thestage.co.uk/news/jon-gil...
Jon Gilchrist: UK must see financial risk of new musicals as an investment
Birmingham Hippodrome artistic director Jon Gilchrist has urged the sector to see ’financial risk as investment’ when it comes to developing new musicals
www.thestage.co.uk
December 5, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Patrick Gracey
thestage.co.uk
Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre is mulling recruiting fewer actors, not replacing departing staff and cutting down on its community engagement work as a result of hiked costs under Labour’s recent budget 👇

www.thestage.co.uk/news/news/st...
Stephen Joseph Theatre mulls scaled-down shows and community work after Budget
Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre is mulling recruiting fewer actors, not replacing departing staff and cutting down on its community engagement work as a result of hiked costs under Labour's recen...
www.thestage.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 4:43 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
Applications to be a public panellist for the Olivier Awards 2026 with Mastercard are now open! ✨

🎭 You could spend the next year watching and reviewing shows for either Theatre, Affiliate, Opera, Dance or Family panel.

Find out more:
officiallondontheatre.com/news/applica...
Apply to be a Olivier Awards public panellist
We are looking for new panellists to help judge categories for the Olivier Awards 2026. Deadline 3 January.
officiallondontheatre.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:51 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🎭 The Arts Council of Wales has suffered a 40% real-terms cut in funding since 2010, despite the fact that investment in the arts is an economic and employment multiplier.

💷 For every pound spent on the arts in Wales, £2.51 is returned to its economy. 📈

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
‘It’s an outrage’: stars join fight against cuts as Welsh arts go into meltdown
Michael Sheen among big names in call for action as leading figure warns there will be little left of the sector in 10 years
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Patrick Gracey
campaignforthearts.org
"We are reviewing the curriculum to put arts and music back at the heart of the national curriculum where it belongs." - Lisa Nandy MP

We welcome the Culture Secretary's commitment to arts education. Meaningful reform is urgently needed to reverse years of decline.
November 28, 2024 at 5:18 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
🚨 Additional Matinee of Oedipus exclusively for Under 30s on Thursday 19th December at 2:30pm.

All tickets priced at £10!

Visit www.soniafriedman.com/under-30s to sign up for access.
November 28, 2024 at 1:20 PM
patrickgracey.bsky.social
British theatres offer outstanding productions at exceptional value.

Most tickets in regional theatres cost less than £35. But while the average ticket price has decreased since 2019, costs have risen faster that inflation, and theatres face urgent capital needs.

www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/patr...
Patrick Gracey: Beyond ticket prices – the battles and benefits of regional theatre
Rising costs, urgent refurbishment requirements and revenues restricted by seating numbers should all be part of the conversation around ticket prices at UK-wide venues, which must also include discus...
www.thestage.co.uk
November 28, 2024 at 8:39 AM