UK Theatre Tours Face Existential Crisis

The touring sector for theatre, music, dance, and opera across England is facing a severe crisis, with a new report highlighting the urgent need for corrective action to ensure its survival. Between 2019 and 2024, touring performances saw an overall decline of 24%, with drama play tours experiencing the most significant drop of 72%.

Mid-scale drama and dance productions, alongside smaller-scale works and those by Global Majority and disabled artists, are identified as most vulnerable. The report attributes these challenges to increased costs, decreased income, and the lingering effects of the pandemic and funding austerity.

Arts Council England acknowledges the crisis and is preparing to launch a new Touring Service. This initiative aims to streamline funding and support innovation and collaboration within the sector, offering organizations greater confidence to continue presenting work nationally and internationally.

Industry groups, like the Local Theatre Touring Alliance, have welcomed the report, confirming the mounting pressures on venues outside major urban centers. They highlight difficulties in securing viable deals, maintaining audience demand, and managing rising costs within current touring models.