Facts and Figures

A closer look at the facts and figures for the Night Out scheme over the years, going back to when it began in 1980.

Image: Audience clapping Photo Credit CP Imaging

  • Night Out was developed by John Prior and was initially part of South East Wales Arts Association.

  • The first Night Out show was in Nantybwch Senior Citizens' Hall in Tredegar, South Wales on 13th October 1980. The first tour was by a company called Small Change Theatre, who performed Hope Street about the Gresford Colliery disaster.

  • In 1999, Night Out became a national scheme as part of the Arts Council of Wales working with local authorities.

  • Around 500 shows a year are booked by 300 different promoter groups. That works out to over 3,000 community volunteers and audiences of 25,000 to 30,000 a year.

  • Each year, a huge range of different performers and companies are booked through the scheme. Of the 250 plus performers, approximately 60% are from Wales and 4% from overseas. Over 23% of performances are in the Welsh language.

  • In 1980 when the scheme began, 11 promoters hosted 34 performances. Since then the scheme has grown and in 2023, 296 promoters hosted 489 performances. That's a total of 14,007 performances since the first show over 40 years ago.