Millfield pulls in the crowds

Millfield Arts Centre is celebrating this week as another bumper pantomime at the venue is reporting a 60% increase in takings – five weeks before the curtain goes up!

The venue, which transferred to Enfield Council control in February 2005, brought the pantomime in-house for the first time in three years in 2006.

Local audiences at the venue have risen by over 70% in two years, and the venue has just enjoyed its most successful season ever, with 23 shows selling out.

Arts centre manager Ralph Dartford says, “It’s a thrilling time to be at The Millfield. Our audiences over the last two years have been absolutely fantastic. Everyone here has worked so hard to make the Millfield one of the most thriving venues in the country. We want to continue to deliver a quality and diverse programme for local residents and beyond.”

The flagship pantomime Peter Pan has an extended run of six weeks this year, and starts a week earlier on Friday 30 November.

With over 30% of the tickets already sold, and 26 of the 66 performances sold out, the theatre is hoping for a replication of the 96% capacity that 2006 pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ran to.

Last year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be performed at the Towngate Theatre Basildon. This is a first for the Millfield, to be asked to mount a production at another theatre.

Marketing Officer, Tim Groves, who will be leaving the venue in November, said, “This is a great reflection of the hard work that has gone into re-launching the venue. Audiences have been coming back to Millfield Arts Centre in their droves, which means we must be doing something right!”

Arts centre manager Ralph Dartford is soon to embark on his third year at the venue, and has secured several big name acts for the forthcoming spring season 2008.

Cllr Paul McCannah, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Olympics, said, “Millfield is attracting great acts which are pulling in the audiences. I welcome the improvements in audience numbers and the popularity of the venue reflects the hard work that the staff, in partnership with the Council, have put into developing it. I am particularly pleased that theatres elsewhere in the country are buying into our expertise and talent."

Acts including Eddie Floyd, The Strawbs, and John Hegley are already lined up for next season, along with drama success stories such as the critically acclaimed and award winning Mile End; a play based on the capital’s underground network, and the classic Picture of Dorian Gray.

Millfield Theatre

Box Office: 020 8807 6680

Website: www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk

Transport: Tube: Turnpike Lane (Piccadilly Line) then 144, 217 or 231, Wood Green (Piccadilly Line) then 144

Train: Silver Street Station – then 10 minute walk

Bus 34,102,W6, 144,217,231

For all press enquiries contact Tim Groves, Marketing and Sales Manager on 020 8887 7305 or email tim.groves@enfield.gov.uk or Kathryn.edwards@enfield.gov.uk

This document was last updated on 2007-11-08 09:46:28 published by the web team team. Document Reference:LBE_131650