Chichester festival revamped
A dramatic experience in the newly refurbished theatre…
Festival 2015 marks the first full season at Chichester following the highly successful major refurbishment completed last summer. One year on, the Festival Theatre will showcase its improved facilities with productions that use the scope of the building to its fullest potential.
At the heart of this season will be major productions of Anton Chekhov’s early plays, offering the first ever chance to see Platonov, Ivanov and The Seagull presented in repertoire with a 22-strong ensemble of distinguished actors. The Young Chekhov plays can be seen individually or as a trilogy, either over different days or on one occasion as an intense theatrical experience. This season within a season is anchored by a trio of talent – Chekhov himself, playwright David Hare, who has written all three adaptations and director Jonathan Kent, returning to Chichester following his triumphant production of Gypsy in Festival 2014. The ensemble cast includes Anna Chancellor, James McArdle and Samuel West.
Two major musicals feature in the Festival 2015 season. Following his Olivier Award-winning performance in Sweeney Todd, Michael Ball returns to Chichester in Mack & Mabel with American actress Rebecca LaChance recently confirmed as Mabel. This celebrated homage to silent movies will be directed by Jonathan Church, with choreography by Stephen Mear. A Damsel in Distress offers a glorious depiction of English eccentricity, directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford.
A new production of Educating Rita by Willy Russell features Lenny Henry making his Chichester debut as the world-weary lecturer Frank, alongside Lashana Lynch as Rita, directed by Talawa Artistic Director Michael Buffong. Tickets are already limited however Chichester’s £8.50 tickets for those aged 16-25 will be released 18 May. Visit cft.org.uk/850 for full details.
The season opens with the transformation of the Festival Theatre stage into a river, complete with life-size boat, for its production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Way Upstream. This nautical comedy features Sarah Parish making her Chichester debut alongside Jason Durr, Peter Forbes, Jill Halfpenny and Jason Hughes in a characteristically dark and funny Ayckbourn comedy.
The Minerva Theatre provides the intimate setting for three further plays. Continuing Chichester’s tradition of staging Jean Anouilh’s plays, there will be a new production of The Rehearsal, a razor-sharp comedy of manners directed by Jeremy Sams, who has also written the translation. The distinguished cast includes Edward Bennett, Niamh Cusack, Jamie Glover and Katherine Kingsley. Frank McGuinness’s award-winning portrayal of three hostages Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, is directed by Michael Attenborough and features David Haig in the cast. For Services Rendered by W. Somerset Maugham, directed by Howard Davies, depicts the far-reaching consequences of World War One for one ordinary English family.
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre marks its 30th anniversary with the world premiere of Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild. Staged in a promenade production at Cass Sculpture Foundation, this bold and inventive production is directed by Dale Rooks and features life-size puppetry by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, whose previous work includes War Horse and The Elephantom for the National Theatre. On sale from Thursday 16 April.
As Chichester unveils its new season, the Theatre continues to consolidate its reputation nationally and internationally with Festival 2014 productions of Taken at Midnight, Stevie and Gypsy in London during 2015, while a UK tour of Barnum continues and Singin’ in the Rain is staged in New Zealand and South Africa.
For the latest news and updates visit cft.org.uk or call 01243 781312.
