Cornwall Playhouse celebrates 500,000th visitor!

As Peter Pan enters it's final week of magical performances, we're delighted to welcome a very special guest.

Since our grand re-opening in October 2021 after a major £26m transformation, we welcomed our 500,000th visitor Kathy and her family. The milestone is a big one for us, as it's the same number as the entire population of Cornwall!

During a matinee of Peter Pan, Kathy and her family were surprised by an exclusive meet-and-greet with the cast, and the presentation of a special prize which included a 500-day VIP membership, and a family ticket to Jack and the Beanstalk, our 2024 Christmas show.

Kathy Kirby and her family with the cast of Peter Pan - Photography by Hugh Hastings

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the loyalty and enthusiasm of our audiences since reopening, and this milestone marks a monumental moment for us. Thanks to the snowballing success of Peter Pan, that moment has come a month earlier than anticipated. And it feels fitting that it should have happened during our Christmas show, which is proudly made in Cornwall every year.”

- Julien Boast, our Chief Executive

Peter Pan - Photography by Hugh Hastings

Over the past two years, we've attracted visitors from far and wide to experience the best of the West End, world-class productions, and a showcase of breathtaking Cornish talent. Specialist funding allowed us to increase capacity of our Grade II listed building so that we could capacity for larger touring shows, including the sellout production of Mamma Mia, the riotous Rocky Horror Show, and next year's productions of Life of Pi, Bluey's Big Play and Jesus Christ Superstar, to name a few. You can read more about What's On here.

Life of Pi - Photography by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Our reopening also marked the birth of Cornwall Playhouse Productions, a brand-new in-house production company showcasing an array of ‘Made in Cornwall’ shows. Since 2021, the team behind Cornwall Playhouse Productions have dedicated themselves to producing and supporting new Cornish work. So far, we've produced proper Cornish renderings of Cinderella and Treasure Island, co-produced the smash-hit Fisherman’s Friends The Musical, and worked with world-class musician Carleen Anderson on Melior Opus Griot.

Fisherman's Friends the Musical - Photography by Hugh Hastings

Our 2023 production of Peter Pan is the third Christmas show from Cornwall Playhouse Productions, which earned a glowing 4-star review from respected industry newspaper The Stage.

“When we reopened, we pledged to be a theatre for all, by improving our accessibility and reaching out to communities who have never visited the theatre before. With tickets starting at £15, a quietly revolutionary ‘Ticket’ Bank, donations from members, and support from our funders, we’ve been able to welcome visitors from all backgrounds to enjoy the magic of theatre.”

- Julien Boast, our Chief Executive

As we head into a brand new year, we continue to work with the community in a variety of ways. As well as improving access to our shows, our Get Creative practitioners, supported by DHL, are working hard to introduce new audiences to the world of theatre. Through school partnerships, youth performance programmes and work with community groups, our team have enthused over 20,000 young people since 2021.

Our Youth Celebration Weekend Showcase - Photography by Hugh Hastings

“The passion, grit and creativity of local performers has captivated us. It’s so important that we continue to show the world the talent thriving in Cornwall. Since 2021, we’ve worked with thousands of young people from nursery to further education, enthusing them to take to the stage and show the world what Cornwall has to offer.”

- Helen Tiplady, our Deputy Creative Director

One of our Youth Dance groups - Photography by Hugh Hastings

You can discover more about Get Creative's work, and how to join their workshops, here.

As 2024 dawns on the horizon, we're excited for the future (and the next half-million customers!) as we continue to work with Cornwall to provide the biggest shows, and a space for all.