Thousands flock to first production at new theatre

According to council figures, the Northern Ireland premiere of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd attracted 3,164 customers to the impressive 7 million theatre between February 2 and 13.

The 400-seat venue, set in the grounds of the council's civic headquarters at Mossley Mill, was buzzing each evening during the two-week run of the hit musical drama, which starred internationally acclaimed Peter Corry as the dark and troubled Sweeney Todd, alongside comedienne and actor Nuala McKeever.

Box office figures show an average occupancy of 72 per cent for each of the nine evening performances, with audience members coming from all over Northern Ireland and further afield.

The statistics reveal that 47 per cent of people who visited the theatre to watch Sweeney Todd were from the Newtownabbey area, with other audience members coming from places such as Belfast, Antrim, Larne, Ballymena, Ballymoney and even the Netherlands.

The new theatre and civic square, part of a 13 million redevelopment project at the historic linen mill site on Carnmoney Road North, has captured people's imagination, and council staff have been delighted with the feedback they have received from audiences so far.

With customer comments describing the new venue as "stunning", "a wonderful addition to the Northern Ireland theatre circuit" and "an excellent theatre in a fabulous setting", Theatre Manager Bernard Clarkson is delighted with the positive response.

"The large audiences which came to Sweeney Todd, our first production at the new Theatre at The Mill, demonstrates that there is a local demand for top quality arts and entertainment. It is rewarding to see so many people take part in and enjoy the whole theatre experience and we look forward to lots more audiences coming through the doors and enjoying the surroundings and the diversity of performances on stage," he said.

For full details of events at the Theatre at The Mill contact the box office on 9034 0202 or log on to www.theatreatthemill.com