Over a third of Bucharest inhabitants go to the theatre at least once a year, found a recent survey, which highlighted that although a relatively high number of people go to theatre, they do it rarely.

In fact, half of those who go to the theatre go there very rarely, and a third, only occasionally.

Most of the respondents in the survey went to the National Theatre I. L. Caragiale in the last year, followed by Notarra, Bulandra and the Comedy Theatre, which are also the best known theatres.

The survey, done at the request of the Notarra theatre and the only such survey in the last 24 years, pointed out that around 15 percent of respondents go to the theatre at least once a month, while a third went to the theatre once in the last three months. Half went to the theatre at least once in the last year.

The main reasons for not going to the theatre was the lack of free time – almost 70 percent, while 20 percent said theatre tickets are too expensive. Half of the respondents said they go to the theatre on weekends, while a third go during the week as well. Most of them perceive going to the theatre as a cultural activity, and not as an activity for spending the free time.

The general profile of the theatre goer in Romania is of a young to mature person, usually male, with university studies and revenues above RON 1,500 – or EUR 330 – with a high social status and a consumer of the Internet.

The most important criteria for choosing a theatre play are the actors, with 87 percent of respondents mentioning it. Then it's the author of the play, important for 61 percent of those surveyed, while recommendations from friends matter for 54 percent of them. The play's director and the theatre itself seem to have a lesser role, with only 49 percent and 43 percent respectively having mentioned these.

The survey was carried in December 2012 via 800 questionnaires by phone interviews with people selected randomly by the computer.

editor@romania-insider.com