The first ever BBC Proms residency to take place in the South West has proved to be a huge success.
Bristol Beacon, which hosted the region’s first full-scale orchestral concerts as part of the world-renowned festival, has revealed that 46 per cent of people booking tickets were first-time visitors to the venue – which equates to nearly 3,000 new people.
More than 6,500 people bought tickets for the six performances that took place over the three-day bank holiday weekend, from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August. The concerts comprised BBC Singers, CBeebies, Paraorchestra, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and it was the first time the BBC had presented a residency of this size in the South West.
Bristol Beacon’s BBC Proms residency was designed with accessibility and inclusivity at the forefront and an ambition to encourage as many new and diverse visitors to the venue as possible. Diversity was represented in both the participating BBC Proms artists and musicians, and the broad programme, which offered something for everyone.
Simon Wales, who recently took up the role of chief executive of the music charity that runs Bristol Beacon says: “Everyone involved in bringing the BBC Proms to Bristol and to the Beacon wanted to ensure we created a residency that was as broad and inclusive as it could be. The whole premise of the Proms was to make it affordable and accessible – something that is completely in line with our values as a music charity and the work that has gone into the venue’s physical transformation.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that this first BBC Proms residency was such a huge success, with three of the concerts also broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. The feedback we’ve had from audiences, the orchestras, and partners, has been incredibly positive. It’s an honour for us to be a part of the greatest festival of classical music in the world and an intrinsic part of the British musical landscape.”
As well as the usual seated tickets, attendees were able to buy traditional ‘promming’ standing tickets for just £8 (plus booking fee) at the Beacon for the first time, for the authentic Proms experience. For Paraorchestra’s world premiere performances of The Virtuous Circle, the audience was able to stand, sit and walk amongst the musicians and supporting dancers as they performed a choreographed performance wandering through the stalls.
