AS the spotlight falls on the first nine months of Newport's Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, it is revealed that audiences have flocked to some of the events - but stayed away from others.

Following a sparkling opening last October and until June this year, more than 49,900 people attended performances, film shows, workshops, classes, conferences and meetings.

In a report to city councillors, theatre director Nicolas Young also points out that 821 events and activities, an average of 23 a week, took place, and at least 50 people also make use of the caf each day or just look around.

"Although some of the professional performance programme did not reach its attendance and financial targets, other areas made the required contribution," he said in the document.

"Savings, primarily on staffing, across the year, mean the budget is currently on track."

While comedy, music and dance have drawn audiences, drama has proved "challenging", but two projects aimed at improving this have won funding from the Arts Council of Wales.

During the last nine months the Riverfront has taken more than £261,000 in box office income and a further £78,793 from things such as ice-cream and merchandise sales.

Mr Young also draws attention to some interesting research by the University of Sheffield which found that the average spending on other services in the city by someone attending a performance was £7.77. "On the basis of the figures above for performances, this would mean that over £260,000 has been spent in Newport as a consequence of the Riverfront's opening."

The performance programme failed to reach its target of £13,177 in the first quarter and, in fact, made a loss of more than £24,000, most of which was due to drama, but other areas were on track.

Mr Young said activity in performance was also heavily weighted towards the second six months of the year.