About Us
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; a studio theatre, the Minerva Theatre, sits nearby.
The annual summer Festival season runs from April to November, during which productions originated at Chichester reach an audience of over 200,000. 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.
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.
Recent productions which have since transferred to London include the musical Caroline, Or Change, Ian Mckellen in King Lear and Quiz, a new play by James Graham.
Since 2014 we have won 37 awards across performance, design, architecture & heritage categories including the Olivier Awards, UK Theatre Awards & International Architecture Awards – as well as accessibility, tourism, community and 70 other nominations or commendations.
