The creation of Chichester Festival Theatre is an extraordinary story of local initiative and enthusiasm
In 1962, Sir Laurence Olivier, the theatre’s first Artistic Director, opened the doors to this ‘impossible theatre’ – strikingly modern with a vast thrust stage, built against all the odds in the green parkland of the cathedral city of Chichester
Chichester Festival Theatre is now one of the UK’s flagship theatres with an international reputation for producing work of the highest quality, ranging from large-scale musicals to distinguished dramas, new writing and events.
The Festival season normally runs from April – October followed by a programme of high quality touring shows in the winter months.
The theatre’s extensive Learning and Participation team create a wide range of exclusive events, tours and talks designed to give visitors extra insight into the productions, classes for all ages and an extensive Youth Theatre reaching across West Sussex which produces a highly regarded Christmas production each year.
During 2012 – its 50th anniversary year – Chichester Festival Theatre embarked on a major capital project, RENEW, to restore and upgrade its Grade 2 * listed building. This year, the refurbished 1,300-seat Festival Theatre reopens. With a transformed auditorium, expanded artist and audience facilities, and greatly improved visitor access, Chichester Festival Theatre can now proudly match its world-class artistic reputation with world-class spaces.
- tel: 01243 781312
- cft.org.uk
- twitter.com/ChichesterFT@ChichesterFT
- facebook.com/chichesterfestivaltheatre
