The economic impact of Australian theatre: AU$4.14 billion in turnover

We’re pleased to share our latest work with Live Performance Australia, exploring the economic impact of the Australian theatre sector across all six states and two territories.

Our Economic Impact Analysis looked at both theatre and production company operations and the wider economic activity generated by interstate and international audiences.

The findings show that Australia’s theatre sector generated AU $4.14 billion in turnover, AU $2.06 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supported 30,403 jobs.

And the impact extends beyond the sector itself. Non-local audience spending generated AU$3.22 billion in turnover, while for every AU$1 in sales by the theatre organisations, there is a AU$4.39  spillover effect throughout the Australian economy

Read the case study

Image Credits

‘Never Have I Ever’, 2025, Black Swan State Theatre Company (Photo: Daniel J Grant)

‘Illume’, Bangarra Dance Theatre, 2025 (Photo: Daniel Boud)

‘The Bogong’s Song’, Bangarra Dance Theatre, 2026 (Photo: Jordan Munns)

Opera Australia’s production of Carmen 2025 (Photo: Keith Saunders)

Rebecca Nash as Turandot in Opera Australia’s Turandot 2026 (Photo: Keith Saunders)

Prima Facie, Black Swan State Theatre Company, 2025 (Photo: Daniel Boud)