A NEW program strategy has been recognised for helping the Princess Theatre post a $8500 profit and significantly increase patron numbers to 86,700.
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In a Launceston City Council committee meeting on Monday, Theatre North representatives spoke about the group’s annual report to the end of December 2014.
Theatre North president Professor David Rich said that although an $8500 profit may not sound like much, on the back of a number of years of losses it was a welcome return to a surplus and well ahead of a scheduled return to profitability.
He said the one negative was the major server crash, which saw the group lose records and ticketing capabilities, and led them to lose around $10,000 in IT expertise to rectify the problem and install new software, as well as cover increased staff hours for that period.
‘‘Without that crash our profit would have been greater,’’ Professor Rich said.
Council pre-approved $970,000 to Theatre North for considerable refurbishment works from December through to March at last week’s meeting.
Professor Rich forewarned aldermen that in an attempt to mitigate any losses it would be approaching council in the future to be a guarantor for any losses.
He said the closure of the theatre would have a significant impact on the bottom line.
Theatre North treasurer Justin Marshall said last year was the first time since 2011 that it had returned a profit after a number of years of ‘‘significant losses’’.
The year also represented the best financial result since 2007.
Mr Marshall said despite the closure for refurbishment works, it was hoping to break even in 2015 and make a cumulative surplus of $25,000 by 2016-17.
General manager Greg Leong said through their new plan they refocused their attention on attracting a wider audience base through more productions, introduced a new drinks policy that allowed people to enjoy them while watching performances and encouraged social media use at intermission and straight after shows.
Mr Leong said a partnership had also been formed called TasPAC that allowed Theatre North members discounted tickets to other Northern companies.