Shakespeare Globe's has revealed that it posted a record income of £23 million in 2015, an increase of 4.6 percent on the previous year. It's work in London achieved an average 94 percent of capacity and was seen by some 490,099 theatregoers — representing 12 percent of the total play-going audience in London of 4,116,250 across the year. Forty percent of that audience pays just £5 a ticket — the same price as in 1997, the theatre's opening year, to stand as a "groundling" in the yard.

In a press statement, Neil Constable, chief executive at the venue, commented, ”In 18 years Shakespeare Globe has established itself as an international player, reaching out as well as drawing people in. We continue to grow—the opening of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse gives us year-round theatre space—and our pioneering spirit continues to achieve firsts. We stayed committed to our principle of keeping 40 percent of tickets in the Globe Theatre at £5 so that Shakespeare performance, at its best and in the theatre for which he wrote, is accessible to all.”

A total of 568 performances were presented during 2015 in the Globe and the indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, including productions of The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure, As You Like It, Richard II and King John. The production of King John in the Globe Theatre achieved a milestone with all of Shakespeare's plays having now been produced by Shakespeare’s Globe. These were performed alongside new plays, including Jessica Swale's Nell Gwynn, which has now transferred successfully to the West End's Apollo Theatre.

For further details and to book tickets for the current season in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and upcoming summer season in the Globe, visit shakespearesglobe.com.