High Record Ticket Sales Experience - NRK . Culture & Entertainment

Sophie Herzog-Songo says, “We look into our eyes first and we want to take advantage of all the cultural offerings we can offer, which is very interesting.”

– I try to accommodate as much as possible. Especially because concerts and shows have been postponed, so I feel I have to squeeze in everything I can before another crisis hits, says Andrea Herzog Songo.

She and her sister are on their way to the doors of the National Theater to see tonight’s show. Many have done the same, for N.The National Theater Company sold a record number of tickets ahead of the fall season.

The culture industry is divided between joy and anxiety ahead of the fall season.

Some report whole homes, while others struggle with ticket sales. This is shown by a round of verifications that NRK has done with various cultural scenes.

A crowd thirsty for culture

From the end of June through the season opening in August, the National Theater sold 25 percent more tickets than it did in the same period before the pandemic. The trading volume in the same period is close to 4 million.

– One Theatre-hungry audiences are one reason Nationaltheatret sold out tickets early this summer, says Austin Heijn Christensen, Nationaltheatret’s chief information officer.

– We also see a whole new audience coming to the stage for the first time. It’s gratifying to see, says Christensen.

Folketeatret also reported very good ticket sales for this fall’s fall shows. Ticket sales for this summer are currently 10 percent ahead of the corresponding period before the pandemic.

Sales are especially good for Mamma Mia’s performance! and Matilda, Chess, and Reisen til Julestjernen.

– We are so grateful that the public is flocking to us. We’re looking forward to a wonderful fall with a diverse program for a culture-hungry audience,” says Andrea Folsdale Scherbeek, Producer and COO of Scenekvelder.

Grieghallen and Rockefeller Among the cultural venues NRK has been in contact with for this report are similar, similar, or better ticket sales before the season opener compared to the same period before the pandemic.

But far from all cultural institutions expect a quick recovery.

New buying patterns

– sublikum is buying tickets later than before, notes Janneke Aulie, director of sales and marketing at Kilden Theater and Concert Hall.

Source faces the same trends for buying tickets as many organizations in Cultural Life. Now the public buys tickets the day before the event or even the same day.

It is believed that the changing buying pattern creates uncertainty and unpredictability for organizers and performers Nina Hodendal, managing director of the Norwegian Cultural Centre.

Norske kulturhus is a member organization of 130 concert and culture houses in the country. In the first half of 2022, 40 percent fewer tickets were sold compared to the same period in 2019.

Activity in cultural centers also decreased by 60-70 percent in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2019.

Another challenge is the competition to attract the public to its event, because the large number simply has not returned after the pandemic.

– The halls are not full. So going on a tour is a financial risk. Then the biggest artists only go on tour because they know they fill the halls.

– This means, Hodendal adds, that many other good artists don’t take out their money at cultural centers, and the program becomes less diverse.

Hopeful Autumn

Despite the price weight gain, skills fleeing and problems with enough volunteers in the industry, the outlook is positive for the fall semester, says Anders Tangen, acting head of the Norwegian Culture Organization (NKA).