THE Octagon Theatre is celebrating record audience figures.

Crowds for the current Spring-Summer season have increased to 44,655, compared to 38,398 during the same period last year - a rise of more than 16 per cent.

The figure represents a 77 per cent of capacity attendance over six shows, including Farnworth-born playwright Jim Cartwright's Two and Eight Miles High, as well as Satin n Steel, which featured comedian Norman Pace.

Octagon executive director John Blackmore said much of the success could be attributed to newcomers to the theatre.

He said: "This years Spring-Summer season has been the most successful since the theatre re-opened six years ago in 1999. As well as attracting over 16 per cent more theatre attenders, figures show that approximately 20 per cent of these people were new, first-time attenders to the Octagon.

"We are particularly pleased that every single production in the spring and summer 2005 season has played to increased houses compared to its equivalent last year.

"We are extremely proud of this achievement and thank our audiences for their support.

"We realise that the real challenge is to maintain this progress while developing the diversity of our programme."

Over the past two years, the Octagon has had productions undertake national tours (Beautiful Thing, The Glee Club, as well as comedy East is East in the new season), while Rat Pack Confidential transferred to the West End.

The number of co-productions undertaken has also increased, with the Octagon attracting the attentions of a number of high-profile producers - last season saw hugely successful co-productions of Beautiful Thing with the Pilot Theatre and Satin n Steel with Nottingham Playhouse.

This coming season will see the Octagon and Pilot Theatre join forces again, along with the York Theatre Royal, to present Ayub Khan-Din's award-winning comedy East Is East, and in addition Octagon and York Theatre Royal team up again at the end of the season to present Arthur Millers Broken Glass.

The Octagon also recently received sponsorship from Manchester Airport for its Cartwright at the Octagon season, which ends on July 2.