Mansfield’s Palace Theatre has seen visitor numbers grow for a second year in a row, with almost 100,000 tickets sold in the 2023/24 financial year.

The theatre, run by Mansfield District Council, said it was an encouraging sign that visitors are coming back to enjoy live theatre post-pandemic.

In 2021/22 more than 72,000 tickets were sold and in 2022/23 it was 90,865.

The figure of 99,035 in 2023/24 included the annual pantomime Beauty And The Beast, which sold to 98%.

The head of Health and Communities at the council, Coun David Evans, said: “The Palace Theatre is an important cultural asset to Mansfield. Its continued success demonstrates that the venue is popular with local people and has a wider appeal as a visitor attraction.

“An ambitious programme of events will continue to encourage more people to come to Mansfield and enjoy its entertainment offer. The theatre is the cornerstone of the town’s visitor economy, and it is excellent news that audience numbers are growing yet again since the pandemic.”

The theatre’s programme for 2024 includes new genres being performed, including contemporary dance and classical music, as well as supporting local talent to perform on the stage, from the Palace’s in-house youth theatre to dance schools and amateur dramatic companies.

To find out more about what’s on at the Mansfield Palace Theatre, go to https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/latest-brochure