The show must go on.

And at The Everyman Theatre on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, even a global pandemic couldn’t stop it.

New figures show The Everyman generated a surplus of over €60,000 and increased turnover by 30 percent in 2021, despite the building being closed for nine months of that year and open only with reduced capacities for the short winter period when the building reopened.

The achievement is even more impressive given that the theatre has to raise over 92 percent of its own funds through ticket sales, donations, strategic partnerships, and fundraising activities.

Overall in 2021, The Everyman presented 289 performances, attended by 30,000 people, online and in person. At no point was it closed for business – there was always a show for audiences to attend – either online or in person, including a full run of panto, despite having to adjust to government Covid-19 restrictions imposed mid-run, such as capacity limits and an 8pm curfew.

It was also a year of innovation for the theatre when they presented The Everyman Outdoors series at Elizabeth Fort, a series of outdoor live events, with the support of Cork City Council.

“While 2020 and 2021 were very difficult years for The Everyman we were greatly humbled by the support shown to us by the people of Cork, firstly in the form of donations and, when the time came again, through buying tickets to our shows in huge numbers,” said Executive Director & CEO, Sean Kelly.

“We also couldn’t have achieved what we did without our fantastic team who worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout to ensure that The Everyman remained a vibrant, healthy, theatre, worthy of the citizens of Cork.”

“2020 and 2021 were, of course, traumatic for the theatre but our community of staff, artists, and board, knuckled down and ensured that the theatre emerged as strong as it has ever been.” added Everyman Chairman, Denis McSweeney.

“We’ve recently welcomed new members to our voluntary board and we’re now focussed on working with the team to ensure that The Everyman continues to be the kind of theatre that the people of Cork deserve.”