Comparability

Comparability - geographical

There has been no comparison of these statistics with corresponding international or foreign accounts.

Comparability over time

Starting with the season for 2020/2021, there is a data break in the statistics. New categories for theatres, genre and audience groups have been introduced, which make the season not fully comparable with previous seasons. To preserve comparability, a new table has been developed that is consistent over time and stretches back to the season 2015/2016.

In the 2015-2016 season, there is a data break in the statistics. A revised questionnaire has been introduced and figures from this season are not directly comparable with figures from previous seasons.

The population has been evolving gradually. From season 1980/1981 through 2002/2003 season included statistics only state-subsidized theaters. From the 2003/2004 season was extended to non state-subsidized (by theater Act) theaters. From season 2004/2005 through 2010/2011 season has been further improved coverage of non state-subsidized theater through examination of various theater listings. From the 2004/2005 season, the inventory expanded to include foreign guest performances.

In connection with the changes to the legislative etc., Regulating aid to the theaters, there may be changes in the population, which can complicate comparisons over time. Statistics changed its name from Theatre Statistics for Performing Arts from the season 2009/2010.

Coherence - cross domain

Many of the major theaters publishes an annual report, which includes a statement of the theater spectator numbers. These statements correspond and not to the statement by Statistics Denmark publish. Oftentimes, the Statistics Denmark's performing arts stats counter spectator numbers for the producing theater. That is, if a theater is on tour and has played a show at another theater than the theater's own counted crowd in this statement during the touring theater Attendance. Many theaters will count those spectators with the statements of their own activity. This will in these statistics mean that the same crowd will be counted twice. Some theaters may also have other activities than actual theater company at their stage among others concerts if Attendance is counted in the theater's own activity statement, but not with the performing arts statistics.

Reservations must also be made if the statistics are compared with the Culture and participation investigation in 2018, which investigate the cultural consumption including performing arts among the Danish population. In the Cultural habit study, stage art is more broadly defined (eg in relation to genre, where one has attended stage art etc.). Therefore the statistics are not directly comparable and this must be taken in account when the results are used.

Coherence - internal

In the 2017/2018 season, Statistics Denmark, in collaboration with Tereba, has created the population list. Incoming data from Tereba is compared with 7 spreadsheets, which Statistics Denmark receives from the Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen. A spreadsheet shows a statement of which theaters or persons have received state aid. A theater or person may be the recipient of various forms of support, eg a theater can both receive project support and support for the dissemination scheme. If a theater or a person is the recipient of several forms of support, the theater or person is assigned the support that is at the top of the form.