Finnish theatre bounces back
The performing arts have remained popular among Finnish audiences despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the country’s largest theatres recorded their lowest ticket sales since the 1950s, they still managed to draw a combined audience of 1.5 million visitors, as revealed by the performing arts industry Statistics Yearbook 2021 compiled by TINFO Theatre Info Finland. The figures for the period under review show that the pandemic-driven slump in sales has now bottomed out, and, although COVID-19 remains an active presence, audiences are starting to return to theatres. Streamed performances also proved popular, while theatres that chose to open their doors during the summer months ended up attracting a veritable stampede of audiences keen for culture.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be felt for a long time to come, and there are no quick fixes to the damage it has caused. But what do the statistics reveal about what happened in Finland’s theatre, dance and circus industries in the course of 2021? The second year of the pandemic was a fragmented and disjointed one, with various sets of restrictions imposed on audience numbers and other areas along the way. While 2020 was defined by the full-scale lockdown implemented in mid-March, the year 2021 saw different industries facing different sets of restrictions.
The last time Finnish performing arts audience numbers were this low was in the early 1950s.
At one point, when almost all social distancing rules had been lifted across Finland, theatre ticket sales still remained subject to limitations. The last time Finnish performing arts audience numbers were this low was in the early 1950s. However, the latest figures show that the slump has now bottomed out, and audience numbers are on the rise again.
Although we are far from the pre-pandemic times when ticket sales would reach four million per year, Finnish theatre, dance, opera and circus productions made it possible for 1.5 million people to enjoy live performances in 2021. This reflects the vital part theatre plays in Finnish society and in people’s lives. It is important to note that, at various points during the course of 2021, ticket capacity was extremely limited due to the restrictions imposed on public gatherings across Finland. There are currently 255 registered theatre, dance and circus operators included within the scope of the statistics, which is an increase of 19 on the previous year.
Finland’s long-standing tradition for summer theatre means that the theatre calendar here includes an additional “third” performance season.
Finland’s long-standing tradition for summer theatre means that the theatre calendar here includes an additional “third” performance season which sees hundreds of productions taking place across the length and breadth of the country. When amateur productions are included alongside professional theatres, these seasonal shows attract more than a million viewers each year. Although performances often take place outdoors, during the first summer of COVID-19 in particular, theatres were forced to use a two-metre measuring stick to ensure the safety and suitability of their seating arrangements.
In 2021, summer theatre returned with a bang, with a 203% increase in the number of productions taking place and a 458% year-on-year rise in ticket sales compared with the first COVID-19 summer season.
Streamed performances also proved popular.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have begun to gather statistics on postponed and cancelled premieres in Finland. In 2020 and 2021, a total of 67 theatres in Finland were forced to cancel 133 premiere productions. Of these, 118 were productions of new Finnish plays. In a further development, streamed performances will now also be included in our statistical data. Ticket sales for livestreamed theatre productions increased by 77% from 2020 to 2021.
TINFO / Sari Havukainen, October 2022
This is an abridged version of a longer article published in Finnish. English translation by: Liisa Muinonen-Martin
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