The Stage

Qdos and FFE sell more than 2m tickets in record financial year

Published Tuesday 19 February 2008 at 13:15 by Alistair Smith

Qdos and First Family Entertainment, the UK’s two leading pantomime producers, have unveiled record financial results for their 2007/8 seasons, revealing they sold more than two million tickets between them.

Qdos - the world’s largest panto producer - reported gross turnover of £17 million - up from £15.5 million last year - and attendance of more than 1.5 million. Meanwhile, FFE - Qdos’ closest rival in the market - recorded almost 650,000 tickets sold from ten productions, up 8% on last year.

A spokesman for Qdos said he expected the year to also record a greater profit than 2006/7. Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Pantomimes, added: “Producing a successful season is a combination of close working relationships with each of the venues, the delivery of high quality shows and, of course, the hard work of the performers and stage staff. Qdos remains the most prolific producer of Christmas shows in the UK and we are particularly pleased to have been awarded further contracts with Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre and Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre following open tenders for the pantomime at each venue.”

Qdos, which produced 19 shows across the UK this year as well as three overseas, has also announced that it has secured two further productions for 2008/9 - at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, which it recently acquired under the banner of HQ Theatres, and the Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Kevin Wood, FFE chief executive First Family Entertainment said: “We’re delighted with the overall performance for our third pantomime season. The audiences loved both the quality productions and the new talent from the UK and overseas. Mickey Rooney enjoyed his panto debut at the age of 87 and he and his British co-star Les Dennis wowed audiences for five weeks in Sunderland. All 10 pantomimes helped make this year a bumper year for sales and we are delighted that we are in talks with more theatres for upcoming productions with the Bristol Hippodrome confirmed for 2008.”

First Family Entertainment

• Shows - 10
• Attendance - 650,000
• Venues include - New Victoria Woking, The King’s Glasgow, Milton Keynes Theatre, Manchester Opera House
• Stars include - Henry Winkler, Ross Kemp, Nigel Havers, Mickey Rooney

Qdos

• Shows - 19
• Attendance - 1.5 million
• Venues include - Newcastle Theatre Royal, Birmingham Hippodrome, Edinburgh King’s Theatre, Northampton Derngate
• Stars include - John Barrowman, David Essex, Brian Conley, Joe Pasquale