New records set for theaters in London's famous West End

London's world famous West End theater quarter reported a record year in 2016, the Society of London Theater said Friday in its annual box office report.

The 44 theaters that make up the West End earned a record of 644,719,639 pounds (802,500,000 U.S.dollars) in box office receipts, up 1.5 percent compared to 2015.

Although attendances of 14,328,121 were down 2.8 percent compared to 2016, the report said that the number of performances last year was almost 6 percent lower than that in 2015.

The report also showed that 76.7 percent of available theater seats were filled in 2016, 4.1 percent more than in 2015, setting a new record for occupancy rates.

London theaters performed 276 new stage productions in 2016, with a total of 17,881 performances across theaterland. The average price paid for a theater ticket in 2016 was 45 pounds, an increase of 4.68 percent.

Musicals proved to be the most popular shows, with attendances of 8,132,673, an increase of 4 percent over 2015.

"With our shows performing to record numbers, the box office figures for 2016 further cement London's place as a world leader in theater," said Caro Newling, president of the Society of London Theater.

"Revenues are just one measure of success. What we are most proud of is that new generations of theater-goers are drawn to the capital by our peerless ability to craft and tell the stories that resonate,"added Newling. Endit