Wicked’s seven-week run at The Lowry in Salford comes to an end on Saturday with experts calculating its impact on the local economy at £5.8 million.
The acclaimed West End and Broadway production, which has been running at The Lowry since 3 June, has been seen by almost 100,000 people at the Salford Quays venue.
Analysts at New Economy – the agency that advises Greater Manchester councils on growth and prosperity – calculated the economic benefits of the show using average visitor spend and post code data for those buying tickets for the production.
Greater Manchester theatregoers accounted for 60% of total audiences – with the remaining 40% travelling from further afield.
Commenting on the £5.8m figure, Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said: “Studies like this from New Economy bring to wider attention the very real benefits that the arts bring to a locality.
“For us, playing host to Wicked for seven weeks – and seeing thousands of people descending on Salford Quays for every performance – it’s a great feeling to know that local businesses and, essentially, local people, are benefitting from what we’ve programmed on our stage.”
Wicked’s Executive Producer, Michael McCabe, said: “After almost two years of touring this spectacular production of Wicked across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, we are delighted to end where it all began, in Greater Manchester. Local audiences have been extraordinarily appreciative and we thank them, and the staff at The Lowry, for their generosity and passion for the show”.
