Theatre in ‘perilous’ state because of ticket prices, says David Harewood
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The new president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art has criticised theatres over high ticket prices.
David Harewood has said theatre is in a “perilous state” and that the industry was at risk of “vanishing” because of soaring prices.
An acclaimed television, film and theatre actor, he is best known for his role in the drama Homeland. He succeeds Sir Kenneth Branagh, who stepped down after nine years in the role.
Speaking to the Front Row podcast, Mr Harewood said: “Theatre’s in a perilous state. My wife went to the theatre the other day, it cost her nearly £200 - who could afford that?
“There are real pressures in the sector right now. I love theatre, I’ll never stop doing theatre, I think it’s magical – it’s a place to challenge one’s imagination and we all need to start talking about it and protecting it because if we’re not, if we’re not careful it will vanish.”
Harewood becomes the latest stage star to publicly denounce the cost of theatre tickets, with David Tennant saying last year that live theatre was “increasingly expensive” with seats “selling for ludicrous amounts of money”.
Average top tier price of £141
The Homeland star, 58, said more needed to be done to protect theatre and ensure its long-term viability – without increasing ticket prices.
Research by the Stage website shows the most expensive theatre seats increased by 20 per cent between 2019 and 2022, with the average price for the top tickets at West End productions in 2023 standing at £141.37.
Harewood became the first black president of Rada this month, four years after the drama school said it had been “responsible for maintaining structures that are systematically racist” and that “Rada has been and currently is institutionally racist”.
The school said it had heard from current and past black students, graduates and staff about their negative experiences and was “profoundly sorry”.
Harewood, 58, has said he enjoyed his time at Rada but has spoken openly about his difficulties after graduation when he suffered a psychotic breakdown.
He discussed his experiences in a 2019 BBC documentary, Psychosis and Me.
When he was appointed president of the academy, he said: “As a former student at Rada and somebody who has enjoyed both the highs and experienced the lows of this industry, I feel I am ideally placed to help these young people navigate the sometimes difficult path from students to professionals, by bringing all the knowledge and experience I’ve learnt over a 30-year career.”
