Scarborough Open Air Theatre set to welcome 100,000 fans for first time
The venue will have a record-breaking summer with its ticket sales
Scarborough Open Air Theatre is ready for a record-breaking summer with ticket sales set to smash the 100,000 mark for the first time ever.
BRIT Award winner Sam Fender launches the venue's 2022 summer season with a sell-out out show on Friday (27th May).
The Hypersonic Missiles singer will be followed on Sunday by the electrifying RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World – leading into a packed summer which includes headline shows from the likes of Bryan Adams, Christina Aguilera, Lewis Capaldi, Westlife and George Ezra.
More than 97,000 tickets have already been sold for this summer’s 17 shows – breaking the North Bay venue’s sales record of 91,431 set in 2018.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first ever concert at Scarborough OAT.
It is estimated this summer’s shows will deliver an estimated £7m-plus boost for the local economy.
Peter Taylor, of venue promoters Cuffe and Taylor, said: “What a summer it’s going to be as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of this brilliant venue. We have 17 amazing shows – starting with Sam Fender’s sold-out gig on Friday.
“We pride ourselves on bringing music’s biggest stars to Scarborough and delivering a diverse programme that has something for everyone. This is reflected in the fact almost 100,000 music fans already have their tickets ahead of our first show of the year.
“These shows are really important, not only for music fans and the venue – which is a jewel in the Yorkshire coast’s crown – but for the local economy and the many thousands of people who work in visitor-related industries.
“It has been a tough few years for live music and the hospitality sector so to break the attendance record this year is something we are really proud of. It’s going to be an unforgettable summer at Scarborough OAT!”
This summer’s programme also includes headline shows from Tom Jones, Elbow, The Script, Tears For Fears, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Crowded House, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Simply Red, a-ha and Jane McDonald’s special Platinum Jubilee Concert in honour of Her Majesty The Queen on Saturday June 4.
Scarborough OAT has certainly come a long way since it staged its first ever show – the comic opera Merrie England, on Thursday July 28th 1932.
More than 460,000 people have attended a live show at the Scarborough Council-owned venue since it was refurbished and re-opened to the public in 2010 – creating a tourism boost of almost £30m for the local economy. The previous box office record year of 2018 created an estimated tourism benefit of £6.9m.
The economic benefit figures, produced using the industry standard Cambridge Research Model for Tourism, take into account such factors as whether customers stay overnight and their estimated spend while in resort.
Research shows, on average, 60% of people who attend shows at Scarborough OAT travel from outside the borough, with many staying overnight locally.
Cllr Jim Grieve, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for quality of life, said: “We were already extremely proud of what we and Cuffe and Taylor have achieved at Scarborough OAT, so for 2022 to be another record-breaking year has surpassed our expectations, especially in light of the challenges of the last couple of years.
“The big name acts and big crowds keep on coming – both the music industry and audiences showing how much they love our venue and its stunning location.
“We look forward to a brilliant season ahead and the important contribution Scarborough OAT will make to the area’s ongoing economic recovery.”
Tickets for all shows are on sale via scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723) 818111.