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Theatres contribute a huge amount
to our national and local economies.
In challenging times, theatres help
local communities to thrive. They
attract employers to an area, helping
to retain graduate employment,
and create flourishing night-time
economies on local high streets.
Every pound spent in a theatre is
then matched by further spending in
local shops, cafes and bars. Theatres
attract a really wide range of people
to towns and cities in the evenings,
keeping the streets friendly and
welcoming for all ages and all
backgrounds.
Visit Britain say that our culture
and heritage is vital for tourism.
It accounts for £4.5bn worth of
spending by tourists each year –
more than a quarter of all spending
by international visitors – and
underpins more than 100,000 jobs
across the length and breadth of
Britain. Tourists rank us as one of the
most vibrant countries in the world
thanks to our contemporary culture.
A new tax relief scheme was
launched by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer in autumn 2014 that
is designed to give a further burst
of growth to an already successful
industry, encouraging new
productions and touring, particularly
outside London.
THEATRE
THE ECONOMY
AND
York Theatre Royal not only provides quality theatre and
live entertainment but through its everlasting pantomime
and events such as the
York Mystery Plays
and productions
such as
The Railway Children
, it provides a boost to the
city through tourism, which helps local businesses.
David Rose, local theatre: York Theatre Royal