Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s flagship theatres, renowned for the exceptionally high standard of its productions as well as its work with the community and young people. Situated in a cathedral city in West Sussex between the South Downs and the sea, the Festival Theatre’s bold thrust stage design makes it one of England’s most striking playhouses; the more intimate Minerva Theatre, sits nearby.
The annual Festival season runs from April to November, during which productions originated at Chichester reach an audience of over 230,000. Year-round programming continues through the winter with the Theatre presenting high-class touring productions, as well as a traditional Christmas show mounted by the renowned Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.
Three highlights of the Festival 2017 season transferred to London in 2018: the musical Caroline, or Change (which transferred to London’s Hampstead Theatre in March 2018 and will run at the West End’s Playhouse Theatre from November 2018); Ian McKellen in King Lear, which transferred to the West End in July 2018 and was broadcast to cinemas internationally by NT Live; and Daniel Evans’s production of Quiz, a new play by James Graham, which transferred to the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre in April 2018.
Other recent West End transfers from Chichester (as originating producer) include Half A Sixpence (Noël Coward Theatre), Young Chekhov (National Theatre), Running Wild (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Savoy Theatre), Taken at Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Gypsy (Savoy Theatre), Stevie (Hampstead Theatre), Private Lives (Gielgud Theatre) and Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre).
Rooted firmly in its community, the Theatre runs a Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) programme that is a beacon of excellence and inspiration to its local audience, as well as being home to one of the country’s largest youth theatres with over 800 members.
For more information, visit cft.org.uk
Chairman: Sir William Castell
Artistic Director: Daniel Evans
Awards Won
| Award | Date Entered |
Won |
| Fantastic for Families Awards | 2018 | Best Age-Friendly Welcome Award nomination |
| Manchester Theatre Awards | 2018 | Special Entertainment Award nomination – Running Wild at the Lowry |
| Brighton Argus | 2018 | Community Star Award nomination – CFT Buddies |
| Positive Practice Awards | 2017 | Partnership in Practice Bronze Award |
| Sussex Life Awards | 2017 | Entertainment Venue of the Year |
| Beautiful South Tourism Awards | 2017 | Tourism Experience Gold Award |
| Beautiful South Tourism Awards | 2017 | Access & Inclusivity Gold Award |
|
The Stage Debut Awards |
2017 | Grace Molony, The Country Girls |
| Sussex Life Awards | 2017 | Entertainment Venue of the Year |
| Knight of Illumination Awards | 2017 | Lighting Design: Theatre Award for Musicals |
| WhatsOnStage Awards | 2017 | Best Actor in a Musical; Best Supporting Actress in a Musical; Best Choreography – Half a Sixpence |
| European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies | 2016 | International Architecture Awards |
| Olivier Awards | 2016 | Best Musical Revival; Best Actress in a Musical; Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical; Best Lighting Designer - Gypsy |
| WhatsOnStage Awards | 2016 | Best Musical Revival; Best Direction; Best Actress in a Musical; Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Gypsy |
Please see individual shows for pricing.
Please note that discounts do not apply to Previews and Press Nights, or to the lowest price in the Festival Theatre.
One reduction applies per ticket, and all discounts are subject to availability.
Ticket prices may be subject to change. Call the Box Office on 01243 781312 for the latest prices.
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2017
Beautiful South Awards Winners 2017/18 - Gold 2018
Beautiful South Awards Winners 2018/19 – Silver 2018
Tourism South East Member 2019 2019| High Season (1 Apr 2020 - 28 Feb 2021) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Saturday | 10:00 | - 23:00 |
| Low Season (1 Mar 2021 - 30 Apr 2021) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Saturday | 10:00 | - 18:00 |
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