Chichester Festival Theatre

Chichester Festival Theatre stands in Oaklands Park on the edge of Chichester, West Sussex. Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya designed the Grade II* listed building, which opened in 1962 under founder Leslie Evershed-Martin. A smaller Minerva Theatre was added nearby in 1989, and The Nest opened in 2025 as a studio for emerging artists. The theatre’s first artistic director was Sir Laurence Olivier, who helped form the first National Theatre company there. Productions from Chichester often moved to London’s Old Vic, starting a tradition of touring shows. The theatre presents classics, new writing and musicals each season from April to October. It draws audiences of around 230,000 and stages transfers to London and tours across the country and abroad. Winter months feature touring productions and a Christmas show by the Youth Theatre, such as a recent adaptation of Matt Haig’s A Boy Called Christmas. The theatre also runs tours, talks, cabarets and family days alongside its Learning, Education and Participation programme. Its Youth Theatre is one of the largest in the country, with over 800 members. Inside, the main auditorium seats a large audience while the Minerva Theatre offers a more intimate space. The Nest provides a small studio for new work by emerging artists. The building sits within Oaklands Park, adding to the calm surroundings. The theatre’s winter shows and education work keep activity high year-round. Mark Foster chairs the theatre as a registered charity, with Justin Audibert leading as artistic director and Kathy Bourne as executive director.