Set in Oaklands Park, Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) was first opened nearly 50 years ago, in 1962. One of Sussex’s flagship venues, the theatre has over 1200 seats and was the first of its kind to have a ‘thrust’ stage; where the audience can get closer- than-close to the action around three sides of the stage.
During the summer, Chichester Festival Theatre holds a Summer Festival, which includes classic and contemporary plays, along with musicals and a unique programme of events for the audience to enjoy. Some highly successful performances ran at last year’s event, with Patrick Stewart making a welcome return to Chichester in Edward Bond's Bingo. Two plays even transferred to the West End, including Yes, Prime Minister, which had its world premiere at CFT.
This year’s festival extravaganza is set to be Sweeney Todd, the barbaric tale of a murderous barber driven to madness on the streets of London. Watch out for some famous faces in the cast, including Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. There are a number of productions planned for over the winter months, such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Nutcracker performed by the Moscow City Ballet. Alongside this, there are talks and exhibitions on a variety of themes.
Arrive early and enjoy a pre- show dinner at the fantastic Brasserie Downstairs, or the more relaxed Brasserie Upstairs, both located in the Minerva Theatre building.
With an international reputation, Chichester Festival Theatre is a real highlight for Sussex and the attractions it offers. Audiences are encouraged to get involved with the shows and the theatre itself with competitions, reviews and even the chance to be a show critic. With such a great selection of reputable performances, there’s no need to travel to the capital for a night at the theatre.
