– We dive in head first and want to take in all the cultural offerings we can, and it’s a lot of fun, says Sophie Herzog Sønju. – I try to bring as much as possible. Especially because concerts and performances have been postponed, so I feel that I have to squeeze in everything I can before there is another crisis, says Andrea Herzog Sønju. She and her sister are on their way to the doors of the National Theater to see tonight’s performance. Many have done the same, because the National Theater has sold a record number of tickets ahead of the autumn season. The culture industry is divided between joy and worry ahead of the autumn season. Some report full houses, while others struggle with ticket sales. This is shown by a round of checks news has made with several cultural scenes. RECORD: The National Theater sold 8,600 tickets in the summer months for the autumn performances. In the same period in 2019, they sold 5,300 tickets. Photo: Kristin Sverre Østensvik / news Culture-thirsty audience From the end of June to the opening of the season in August, the National Theater sold 25 per cent more tickets than in the same period before the pandemic. The turnover in the same period is close to 4 million. – A theatre-hungry audience is one of the reasons why the Nationaltheatret has sold tickets early this summer, says Øystein Hygen Christensen, head of information at the Nationaltheatret. SATISFIED: – We had a very good summer in terms of sales and a good run-up to the autumn season, says Øystein Hygen Christensen, Information Manager at the Nationaltheatret. Photo: Øyvind Eide – We also see that a completely new audience is coming to the theater for the first time. It is gratifying to see, says Christensen. Folketeatret also reports very good ticket sales for this autumn’s performances. This summer’s ticket sales are currently 10 percent ahead of the corresponding period before the pandemic. Sales are particularly good for the performances Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Chess and Reisen til Julestjernen. – We are enormously grateful that the public flocks to us. We are looking forward to a great autumn with a varied program for a culture-thirsty audience, says Andrea Volsdal Skirbekk, producer and director of operations at Scenekvelder. Andrea Volsdal Skirbekk, producer and director of operations at Scenekvelder. Photo: Scene evenings Grieghallen and Rockefeller are among the cultural venues news has been in contact with that report similar, similar or better pre-sales of tickets before the season opening compared to the same period before the pandemic. But far from all cultural institutions expect a quick recovery. New buying patterns – The public buys tickets later than before, points out Janneke Aulie, sales and marketing manager at Kilden theater and concert hall. The source experiences the same trends for the purchase of tickets as several organizations in cultural life. Now the public buys tickets the day before or even the same day as the event. A changed purchasing pattern creates great uncertainty and unpredictability for organizers and performers, believes Nina Hodnedal, managing director of Norske kulturhus. CONCERNED: The culture industry is still facing challenges, according to Nina Hodneland, head of Norske kulturhus. Photo: Ida Yasin Andersen / news Norske kulturhus is a member organization for 130 of the country’s concert and culture houses. In the first half of 2022, 40 per cent fewer tickets were sold compared to the same period in 2019. Activity in the cultural centers has also been reduced by between 60-70 per cent in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2019. Another challenge is the competition’s ability to attract the public to their own event, because the large number simply haven’t returned after the pandemic. – The halls are not filled, so going on tour is a financial risk. Then only the very biggest artists go on tour because they know they fill the halls. – This means that many other good performers do not rent at the cultural centers, and the program becomes less varied, adds Hodnedal. Hopeful autumn Despite increasing price pressure, skills that are fleeing and problems with a sufficient number of volunteers in the industry, forecasts are positive for the autumn, says Anders Tangen, acting head of Norwegian Cultural Organizers (NKA). Anders Tangen, acting leader of Norwegian Cultural Organizers (NKA), which represents 466 festivals, venues, cultural centers, rock clubs, blues clubs and student societies. Photo: Ellen Lorntzen. – People are eager to experience culture again, and it is a tightly packed program that we hope people will find, says Tangen.
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Experience record high ticket sales – news Culture and entertainment
