Kenwright’s production firm shows resilience
THE threatre and musicals production company owned by Liverpool-born businessman and Everton FC chairman Bill Kenwright, has reported resilient financial results.
Based in London Bill Kenwright Ltd is the UK’s largest independent theatre and film production company, behind such West End hits as The Wizard of Oz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat.
In the year to December 2010 the company, whose sole shareholder is Mr Kenwright, made a profit of £2.1m down marginally on the £2.3m it made in the previous year. Turnover rose though, from £33..3m to £35.2m.
In the business review the comany said: “Despite worsening economic conditions, the group’s core business of producing quality theatrical plays and musicals continues to yield reliable returns.
“The group’s core shows – Joseph, Blood Brothers and plays from its Agatha Christie catalogue – continue to attract substantial audiences and deliver year-on-year.
“Furthermore the group’s strategy of complementing its established shows with new productions and investments (Dreamboats And Petticoats, Evita, Jekyll And Hyde, Rocky Horror Show, Spamalot) is starting to generate returns.”
With new shows launched last year, including a European tour of Evita, the company said it is performing strongly and expected to make a profit for 2011.
A dividend of £3m was taken by Mr Kenwright during the year, compared with a payment of nearly £9m in 2009. The company made donations totallying £25,000 to medical, cultural and wildlife charities.
