Read the latest industry update from London Theatre Direct.

As one of the UK’s leading providers of theatre tickets and innovators of ticketing technology, London Theatre Direct (LTD) has weathered the Covid storm, overcoming an industry-wide shut down, renewing customer confidence, introducing new technologies, supporting producers and theatre groups and building back better than before. London Theatre Direct has not only survived, but thrived.

In the past 6 months we’ve generated tens of millions in sales and have added approximately 200 partners in the last year and a half, with a strong focus on supporting and strengthening ties with partners with increased domestic audience reach and fast turnaround markets. We have also integrated e-wallet tickets with support for all box office systems. Our e-tickets can be displayed on mobile phones and smart watches for contactless entrance to the venue and we’ve implanted a number of tools for faster customer notification, including sending SMS.

In addition LTD has developed API driven show branded gift e-vouchers with personal messaging to enable shows to retain visibility in marketing campaigns whilst the venues were closed and build credit ready to be spent as soon as they reopened. Further developments include the upcoming beta launch of a new audience insights and data analysis product by LTD called Auditorium.

As we head into the future and to further strengthen support to the industry, we’re announcing a new structure to the leadership team.

Having built the company from scratch over the last two decades, LTD’s co-founders Francis Hellyer and Emmanuel Ciolfi are moving into new Joint Executive Chairmen roles allowing them to relinquish day-to-day management responsibilities and focus on innovation and strategy where they can to drive creative solutions in the post-pandemic space.

As a result, Helen Enright has been appointed as LTD’s new Chief Executive Officer taking on full executive responsibility. Helen has over 20 years’ experience in the theatre industry. In her most recent role as CFO for Trafalgar Entertainment, Helen worked on a number of acquisitions and integrations including ticketing, venues, productions and performing arts education.

Previous to that, Helen was CFO and Commercial Director of Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) having joined ATG in April 2000 to coincide with a period of rapid expansion. During 16 years with ATG, Helen helped grow the business into a world leader and was responsible for establishing and growing ATG Tickets which during her time became the largest seller of theatre tickets in the UK selling 10million tickets per annum. She also oversaw the acquisition of ticketing businesses, Love Theatre and Groupline.

LTD’s team have worked enormously hard during the turbulence of the last 18 months. Now as all shows come back to market, they are now at the forefront of the return to business! The key team consists of Mark Prethero, Commercial Director, responsible for B2B Network and Tech growth. Ryan Woods as Marketing Director, overseeing our B2C channels and industry network. Michelle Dunn has been promoted to Head of Ticketing and Operations. Nicky Sweetland, who joined us recently as Marketing Manager. Amalia Van Eerde is our Partnership Sales Manager. Ella Piper has been recently appointed as Sales and Customer Services Manager and will lead the set-up of a new Customer Contact Centre team, based in London. LTD also announces that Rob Edwards has stepped down from the position of Chief Operation Officer. We would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.

We’d also like to thank the amazing team at LTD for their extraordinary contribution and hard work over the last 18 months in dealing with unprecedented levels of customer queries, refunds, cancelled performances and exchanges.

Along with our superb wider LTD Team, LTD is ready to get back to doing what they do best – selling tickets! We’re excited for the future and look forward to working with you all as we enter this new era!