The BOAT survey for 2008 is now complete. This is an overview of those views expressed by patrons. These are stats only, not conclusions.
This survey was completed by c 250 patrons who are registered on the BOAT Mailing List 2008 and/or were registered as online patrons by April 2008.
BOAT would like to thank ALL patrons for their support in this.
Facts about the patrons
1) Of the patrons who completed the form...
56% have been attending BOAT performances for more than 10 years.
26% have been attending the performances between 5 and 10 years.
18% have been attending performances for less than 5 years.
2) Of the patrons who have attended for more than 10 years...
53% have attended all BOAT performances in that time
(being 30% of the patrons who completed the survey).
3) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 15 have attended only the plays that interest them.
The patron’s play/picnic experience
1) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 19 don’t bring their own picnic.
2) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 18% buy snacks/drinks on the island.
3) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 10 don’t worry about having food/drink at all.
4) Of the patrons who completed the form...
77% consider the play and the picnic are of equal importance.
5) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 3 considered the picnic more important than the play.
The weather
1) Of the patrons who completed the form...
47% have experienced bad weather but sat through to the end.
10% have left early due to performances interrupted by bad weather.
2) Of the patrons who completed the form...
only 7 have considered not to come again due to their experience with bad weather (only 1 of these has ever left early!).
3) Of the patrons who answered the question...
96% consider bad weather just a part of outdoor theatre and would not affect their decision to come again.
BOAT future
1) Of the patrons who completed the form...
84% will come whatever Shakespeare play BOAT present.
15% will only come to plays that interest them.
2) Of the patrons who completed the form...
97% enjoy comedies.
72% enjoy tragedies.
73% enjoy histories.
3) Of the patrons who answered the question...
60% are interested whatever the play category.
4) Of the patrons who completed the form...
44% would come to both plays if BOAT were to perform two in same season.
A further 31% would come to both plays, but only if both were of interest to them. 24% would only come to one play.
5) Of patrons who would only come to see one play...
14% would come to the more well-known one.
3% would come to the lesser-known one.
79% would choose based on other factors eg dates.
A number of patrons also raised issues/questions on their forms. These will all be looked at and BOAT will aim to answer them in the coming months.
