The Pirates of Penzance breaks UK box office records

The cinema screening of Mike Leigh’s The Pirates of Penzance production has just broken box office records as the highest-grossing live event yet seen in the UK. Totalling more than £60,000, the live broadcast of Leigh’s National Opera debut saw over 40,000 people attend cinemas across the country on May 19. Gerard Buckle, Altive Media Manager Director, said, ‘I’m delighted that Altive Media were able to create this level of interest for what is an exceptional piece of live content. It is a landmark moment for a live cinema broadcast.’

This is a huge step up for live event cinema, which has only been growing in the past few years. Leigh’s reputation as an uncompromising visual artist no doubt helped bolster box office receipts, while the audience for live broadcasts of National Opera is only continuing to grow.