Last year, the number of visitors to the Latvian Puppet Theater increased by 10% – if in 2022 43,695 spectators visited the theater, then in 2023 they were 48,371 spectators, according to the theater’s last year’s report.
Also, in 2023, the Latvian Puppet Theater performed 419 performances, including four performances available in digital format and 46 performances performed outside the theater premises. Last year, the theater had 50 productions in its repertoire, nine of which were new productions. In 2023, the average price of tickets has increased by 20% compared to 2022 – if in 2022 the average price was 11.43 euros, then last year – it reached 13.77 euros.
The total revenue from ticket sales was 631,845 euros, which is 23% more compared to 2022, when the revenue from ticket sales reached 513,472 euros. Last year, the total turnover of the Latvian Puppet Theater reached 2.4 million euros. The majority, or 64%, of the revenue structure is financed by the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
In the reporting year, the funding received by the Ministry of Culture in the revenue structure in 2023, compared to 2022, increased by 10.47%. The second largest revenue generating item – theater ticket revenue. The rest of the revenue consists of sold software, CDs with music recordings from performances and advertising products.
In 2023, the Ministry of Finance allocated 1.7 million euros in the amount determined by last year’s state budget law, including: a grant from the state basic budget in the amount of 1.4 million euros, 88,406 euros to ensure a wage increase from July 1, 2023 for theater employees, 129 892 euros for the temporary rental of premises in the halls of the Latvian Society of Riga and partial coverage of living expenses in 2023, 83,183 euros for the transfer of the theater after reconstruction to the historical building of the theater at 16/18 Krišjāņa Barona Street, Riga.
The report states that the Latvian Puppet Theater regularly participates in competitions organized by the State Cultural Capital Fund (VKKF). In 2023, the theater received VKKF support in the amount of 6,330 euros for two projects: Andrew Stanford’s master classes “Inclusive art for children and young people with disabilities” for the creative team of the Latvian Puppet Theater and others 2,330 euros for professionals in the theater sector and 4,000 euros for the staging of the play “Siberian Haiku” directed by Valters Silis.
In 2023, the theater sold a total of 7,954 tickets at reduced prices with discounts to representatives of socially vulnerable groups, including Latvian Honor families – 4,379 visitors. Also, the theater has continued cooperation with the municipalities of Ventspils, Rēzekne, Cēsi, with which cooperation agreements have been concluded on the organization of guest performances.
During the reporting year, the Latvian Puppet Theater made timely all tax payments to the state budget in the amount of 689,043 euros. If the total turnover of the theater in 2023 reached 2.4 million euros, the amount of total expenses last year was 2.3 million euros.
Most of the expenses, or 73%, are personnel costs and royalties, including salaries of state employees and social tax payments. The expenses of temporary premises and a rented car make up 9%, which, compared to 2022, have increased in connection with the increase in the price of energy resources. On the other hand, the theater ended the year with a profit of 14,682 euros.
