Sowing the seeds for future audiences

Theatre-in-education programs expand young minds but is there evidence they encourage young people to transition into theatregoers as they age?
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Image via healthyurbanhabitat.com.au

As with other art forms, exposure to theatre productions from a young age helps nurture children’s creativity and imagination, encourages literacy, and increases emotional intelligence. But is there any proof that children and teenagers who are exposed to the theatre when young will be more inclined to purchase tickets, perhaps even subscribe, when they’re older?

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts