Stage: Chichester Change
Chichester Festival Theatre appoints Daniel Evans as new Artistic Director
Chichester Festival Theatre Chairman, Sir William Castell, announced last week that the Board has appointed Daniel Evans to succeed Jonathan Church as Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre. Daniel Evans has been Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres since 2009. He will take up his new post in July 2016.
Sir William said: “I am delighted to confirm Daniel Evans as our next artistic leader. After a comprehensive search, we were presented with a very accomplished shortlist of candidates but it was clear that Daniel’s breadth of experience as a director and actor makes him a brilliant fit for Chichester Festival Theatre. He is widely admired for championing classical work and musicals alongside a commitment to new writing, and his passion for theatre is infectious. I am very happy he has chosen to share that with us as we look forward to a terrific future for CFT.”
Daniel Evans said: “I am truly delighted to be asked by the Board at Chichester Festival Theatre to become its next Artistic Director. Under the leadership of Jonathan Church and Executive Director Alan Finch, Chichester has developed into the most incredible theatrical powerhouse which has fed and nourished the local community in the South East as well as the theatre ecology throughout the UK and internationally. I look forward to collaborating with the team in West Sussex to develop that work further as the organisation evolves into this next exciting chapter in its history.
“I am hugely grateful to the entire staff at Sheffield Theatres and I’m deeply proud of the bold, passionate and enriching work we’ve achieved together in our City Region. It has been a real privilege to lead the organisation for the last seven years.”
Jonathan Church, who leaves Chichester in September 2016, added: “I could not be happier with this fantastic news. Daniel is a first-rate director with a real passion for theatre and I’m really pleased to be leaving Chichester Festival Theatre in such good hands. As someone who has lived and worked in Sheffield, I can truly appreciate everything that he has achieved there. Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre has the only other large-scale Guthrie thrust stage in the UK, so Daniel’s experience will sit wonderfully with our audience here in Chichester and be welcomed with great excitement by our staff.
“I will continue to programme and deliver our Festival 2016 season as I hand over to Daniel and wish him every good fortune as he takes over the helm.”
Brighton’s Original Alternative Adult Pantomime
Brighton’s Original Alternative Adult Pantomime was founded by the late larger than life theatre empresario Brian Ralfe in 2002, sadly Brian passed away in March this year. Alice In Pantoland will be the 14th consecutive production from this talented Panto Team.
Brian’s lifelong friend and Director of the Pantomime group Lee Tracey has stepped up and taken over the reins for what promises to be as ever a “ totally OTT and generally un-PC” production.
Alice In Pantoland is a journey through pantomime. Will Alice find his or her Beau?! Will Alice hook ‘Hook’ or an ugly sister? Who knows! The show provides a wonderful contemporary musical journey though Pantoland with comedy and banter along the way. This new production also features three highly talented stars from London’s West End.
The yearly production by Brighton’s Original Alternative Adult Pantomime enjoys cult status amongst its year on year followers. Tickets went on sale in July and 10 of the 22 performances have already sold out. This will be their 14th Year at The Brighton Dome Complex.
Lee Tracey stars as Dame and Sarah The Cook. Maisie Trollette plays Idle Jack. Phil Harlequeen plays the Fairy Godmother. Jason Prince is Captain Hook. Pooh La May is The Empress of China.
Scott Virgo is Dick Whittington. Topsie Redfern is both The Ugly Sister and Alice. Lascel Wood plays The Devil.
Jack Seager is Tinkerballs and The White Rabbit. Jack comes from the west end for his first season of Panto. As a skilled and trained classical dancer he played the lead role in Billy Elliot for 4 years.
Russell Keith plays Prince Charming and joins the cast and was formally lead vocalist in the West End production of The Jersey Boys.
Alice in Pantoland is at the Brighton Dome Studio from January 27th until February 7th 2016. Shows daily at 5pm and 8pm.
To book call the Box Office on 01273 709709 or www.brightondome.org
