Children’s favourite The Little Princess is the latest victim of the recession.

A live stage version of the hit children’s book and TV series was due at the Alhambra in March, but has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales nationwide.

When it comes to the recession’s impact on the box office, Bradford Theatres general manager Adam Renton says children’s shows have been hardest hit.

“There has been a noticeable drop in attendance. It’s a big commitment to pay £30 for three people for a children’s show,” he says – but he adds it’s a different story for bigger productions.

“Shows like Sister Act and Hairspray have exceeded expectations. People see them as a special event and are prepared to treat themselves,” says Mr Renton.

“We’re getting West End hits – we’ve got Legally Blonde this summer – and they continue to attract big audiences here. Sister Act was a massive success, it could easily have run another week at the Alhambra.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the way sales have kept going, despite the recession.”

Bradford Theatres – which runs the Alhambra and its Studio theatre, St George’s Hall and King’s Hall in Ilkley – currently charges £1 booking fee for ticket sales, except box office cash sales, but under Bradford Council’s draft Budget proposals, a £1 booking fee could be introduced onto cash sales, too.

With the proposal out for public consultation, Mr Renton says it’s too early to comment on any potential sales impact, but he has noticed a difference in the way people book.

“Booking patterns have changed dramatically in the recession,” he says. “There are two main changes – one is that people don’t want to commit in advance, so are booking at very short notice, and the other is that in times of economic gloom, people want escapism.

“The recession has affected some shows which have been several times, as people tend to wait for them to come again, but big shows like Sister Act pull in packed audiences.”

This week, Bradford Theatres launched a ‘January sale’ offering tickets for three Alhambra shows for £50. The package is available for opening nights of spring season shows between February and April.

“We have an exceptionally varied range of shows this spring – the UK tour of Chicago opens here, and we’ve got shows like Steel Magnolias and I Dreamed A Dream, with an appearance by Susan Boyle. I want more people to experience what we’re offering,” says Mr Renton.

“This price package means that in these difficult economic times, people can see multiple shows in Bradford for a reduced rate.”

The spring season spans drama, mainstream musicals, big-budget family shows and internationally-renowned dance, with productions including The Diary Of Anne Frank; Save The Last Dance For Me; Horrible Histories; Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker; and a landmark National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls.

The varied range is aimed at broadening audiences. Bradford Theatres is encouraging its core users to try other productions, creating a ‘cross-pollenation’ of audiences.

“We try to get people to see shows they wouldn’t normally go to,” says Mr Renton. “This year, I’ve programmed it a bit differently; we’ve still got blockbuster musicals, but they’re part of a varied package including things like Nederlands Dans Theater 2.

“Financially, some shows support other shows. We always aim for quality, but there has to be a mix. If you go with back-to-back musicals you dilute audiences – people can’t afford big musicals four times in five weeks, so I’m mixing quality drama and dance alongside well-known shows.”

Dance seasons have attracted big regional audiences to the Alhambra – which is often the only Yorkshire venue for international dance companies – and its sixth season starts next month with urban dance show Elektro Kif.

When recession bites, it takes more than on-stage action to make theatres work. Diversifying is also key, and among the front-of-house events introduced by Bradford Theatres are murder mystery nights, wine-tasting sessions and a tea-room at King’s Hall.

“It’s about making our buildings work harder,” says Mr Renton.

The spring season ticket package is available on a first-come-first-served basis on (01274) 432000.