This volume serves as a comprehensive record of the significant events, productions, and professional shifts within the performing arts sector during the 1986 calendar year. Iris Newson compiles data regarding theatrical premieres, major dance company performances, and musical milestones to provide a snapshot of the industry's status. The text utilizes a chronological and categorical framework to organize information for researchers and historians. It functions as a primary reference tool for tracking the creative output and institutional changes that defined the mid-1980s arts landscape.

Researchers and archivists utilize this text as a foundational reference for verifying production dates and cast lists from the 1986 season. Experts note that while the prose is strictly clinical and data-heavy, it remains a reliable resource for historical documentation of the performing arts.