The results of a three-year study into regional theatre and bringing new audiences into the arts has been published.

Fuel launched the findings of their New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood (NTIYN) study in Preston on November 26.

It found that 74% of audience members would find out more about local theatre, if they saw a performance about their area.

Louise Blackwell, from Fuel, said: “The kind of theatre we produce can often go under the radar because it’s not necessarily in a main theatre space or on for very long in one place.

“Therefore it’s important to find ways to connect with people in an area be it via local radio, direct conversations or other means.

“If they know about it then people can choose to participants in something they may not have experienced before. It’s all about how that first connection is made.

“I’m interested in promoting the work that we produce and contemporary performance in general to more people.

“Whether it’s in London or in Preston I’d like to make it possible for people to know about and choose to see the wide range of high quality, unusual, intelligent, relevant and entertaining theatre that is on offer today in places they may not expect to find it.”

Since 2012, Fuel have been implementing the New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood scheme in The Lakeside in Colchester, Malvern Theatres in Malvern, Theatre Royal and The Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate, They Eat Culture in Preston, The Lighthouse in Poole and ARC in Stockton.

They put on workshops and performances, all with the aim of promoting local theatre to new, regional audiences.

Pam Hardiman, Programme Manager at Theatre Royal Margate, said “What NTIYN has given Theatre Royal is real, practical support in developing audiences for it, confidence in the quality of the work, and has enabled us to establish working relationships with other local cultural organisations.”

The report found that it was a successful scheme, with over a quarter of audiences saying they were new to the venue.

42% of them said they were would find out more about theatre in the local area.

The study also found that many people new to theatre would be interested in a book-club-style theatre group.

Fuel have released the outcome of their New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood study. For more information, click here.

Image: Kim Conway