Smock Alley Theatre posts loss despite rise in bar sales

Box office sales slump by more than half on previous year

Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre has plunged deeper into the red after pretax losses more than doubled last year.

Box office sales slumped to just over €69,800 in the 12 months to end of June 2014, less than half the €150,367 in ticket sales the previous year.

However, bar sales more than doubled to €210,995. Alongside donations of €26,400, this helped offset the decline in turnover to just under €3,000 at €577,000.

A substantial rise in administrative costs saw the theatre report a loss before tax in excess of €97,200, more than double the €35,350 reported in the previous 12-month period.

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It posted an operating loss of €81,083, a significant increase on the previous year’s loss of €17,903. The overall cost of sales was €67,652 last year, down from €72,588 in 2013.

Smock Alley received grant income of €74,536 and rent of €195,145.

The number of employees declined from 39 in 2013 to 33 in 2014. However, salaries and wages increased, rising from €238,523 to €277,667.

After Sarah Miles, Pilgrim and Waiting for Godot were among the productions put on at the theatre last year.