Chichester Festival Theatre
World-class theatre in the heart of West Sussex
Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the most important producing theatres in the country, with a reputation that extends well beyond West Sussex. Founded in 1962 with Laurence Olivier as its first director, the theatre has a history of launching productions that transfer to the West End and of attracting some of the finest actors, directors and designers in British theatre.
The theatre sits in Oaklands Park, a short walk from the city centre, in a distinctive hexagonal building designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya. The thrust stage, which projects into the auditorium and is surrounded by seats on three sides, creates an intimate relationship between performers and audience that is the theatre's defining characteristic. The main house seats around 1,200 people, and despite its size, every seat feels close to the action.
The Minerva Theatre, a smaller studio space seating around 300, was added in 1989. It provides a more intimate setting for new writing, experimental work and smaller-scale productions. Many productions begin in the Minerva before transferring to the main house or to London, and the theatre has been responsible for launching a significant number of West End and Broadway shows.
The season runs from April through to November, with a programme of plays, musicals, new writing and revivals. The summer months are the busiest, and the theatre is a major draw for visitors to Chichester during this period. The quality of the work is consistently high, and the cast lists regularly include household names from stage and screen. The theatre's connection to the National Theatre, which Olivier went on to found, remains a source of pride.
Beyond the main programme, the theatre runs an extensive education and community programme. Youth theatre, workshops, talks and backstage tours all contribute to the theatre's role in the cultural life of the city. The annual Christmas show, often a family musical or pantomime, is a highlight of the festive season and sells out quickly.
The restaurant and bar in the theatre complex provide pre-show and interval refreshments, and the park setting allows for picnics on warm summer evenings. The atmosphere on a balmy July evening, with theatre-goers strolling through the park before a performance, is one of the particular pleasures of cultural life in Chichester.
Tickets range from affordable to premium, and the theatre offers concessions for under-30s, students and other groups. Booking early is advisable for the most popular productions, as the theatre's loyal audience base means that the best shows sell out well in advance.
Beyond the main programme, the theatre runs an extensive education and community programme that reaches well beyond the auditorium walls. Youth theatre, workshops, talks and backstage tours all contribute to the theatre role in the cultural life of the city and help to develop the next generation of theatre-goers and theatre-makers. The annual Christmas show, often a family musical or pantomime, is a highlight of the festive season and sells out quickly, becoming a family tradition for many Chichester households.
The restaurant and bar in the theatre complex provide pre-show and interval refreshments, and the park setting allows for picnics on warm summer evenings before the curtain rises. The atmosphere on a balmy July evening, with theatre-goers strolling through Oaklands Park before a performance, is one of the particular pleasures of cultural life in Chichester and gives the theatre season a social dimension that extends beyond the work on stage.
Tickets range from affordable to premium, and the theatre offers concessions for under-30s, students and other groups to ensure that the work is accessible to as wide an audience as possible. Booking early is advisable for the most popular productions, as the theatre loyal audience base and its national reputation mean that the best shows sell out well in advance of opening night.