From comedy to cabaret, drama to music - 10 great reasons to visit Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn

Chichester Festival Theatre’s brand new autumn season offers a dazzling array of drama, music, cabaret and comedy.
Barely Methodical TroupeBarely Methodical Troupe
Barely Methodical Troupe

CFT has worked hard to put all the necessary measures in place for audiences’ health and comfort and to make your visit COVID-safe. Visit cft.org.uk for full details.

Here are 10 great reasons to visit the CFT this autumn:

1 Crave (29 Oct-7 Nov, age 16+)

CraveCrave
Crave

Sarah Kane’s haunting meditation on the meaning of love will be staged to a socially-distanced audience in the Festival Theatre and simultaneously live-streamed across the world. Erin Doherty (The Crown), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter), Wendy Kweh (Holby City) and Jonathan Slinger (The Salisbury Poisonings) star in this unique production, directed by Tinuke Craig (random/generations).

2 Comedy Nights (17 & 24 Nov, age 14+)

We all need a good laugh, right? Forget your troubles and get happy with two blissful nights of superb stand-up comedy. Rich Hall, Portsmouth’s own Suzi Ruffell and MC Andrew Ryan top the bill on 17 November, while Russell Kane, Rosie Jones and MC Charlie Baker serve up the hilarity on 24 November.

3 The Black Cat Cabaret (19-21 Nov, age 16+)

Rich Hall, Suzi Ruffell and Russell Kane - Comedy Nights at Chichester Festival TheatreRich Hall, Suzi Ruffell and Russell Kane - Comedy Nights at Chichester Festival Theatre
Rich Hall, Suzi Ruffell and Russell Kane - Comedy Nights at Chichester Festival Theatre

An evening of five-star variety from London’s much-loved bohemian show troupe. Inspired by the artistic Salons of vintage Montmartre, spend the evening with an array of exceptional cabaret and Fringe performers, from comic chansons to thrilling acrobatics, presided over by the incomparable emcee Miss Frisky. Leave your troubles at the door!

4 A Merry Little Christmas Celebration (30 Nov-3 Dec)

Prepare to unwrap Christmas with a week of delightfully festive evenings of seasonal words and music. Simon Callow shares an extract from his celebrated adaptation of A Christmas Carol, while West End singers Rebecca Trehearn, Emmanuel Kojo and Rebecca Caine join Daniel Evans and a special guest for traditional carols.

5 I’ll Tell You How The Sun Rose (11 Nov)

Black Cat Cabaret - Salons des ArtistesBlack Cat Cabaret - Salons des Artistes
Black Cat Cabaret - Salons des Artistes

Internationally-acclaimed soprano Kate Royal performs the UK premiere of I’ll Tell You How The Sun Rose, with pianist Joseph Middleton: a beautiful selection of 24 songs by Mahler, Liszt, Schumann, Vaughan Williams and many more. Kate has sung at Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera and the New York Met – don’t miss the chance to hear her in Chichester on 11 November.

6 Prologue £5 tickets

If you’re between 25 and 30, you’re in luck! Chichester’s amazing Prologue scheme has extended its age range by an extra five years. Everyone aged 16 – 30 can now join this FREE scheme and access £5 tickets for every show in the Autumn season. Join here: cft.org.uk/Prologue

7 Pinocchio (11 Dec-2 Jan, age 7+)

A Merry Little Christmas CelebrationA Merry Little Christmas Celebration
A Merry Little Christmas Celebration

A brand new version of the classic tale about a wooden puppet who can’t stop getting into trouble. He has lots of adventures in Wonderland and the world beneath the sea, but his nose gets longer with every lie he tells. Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s annual Christmas show is an unmissable treat.

8 Shift (26-28 Nov, age 8+)

Barely Methodical Troupe are at the forefront of a new kind of highly entertaining physical performance; their sold-out shows at the Spiegeltent last year drew rave reactions from all ages. Shift mixes show-stopping circus tricks with the emotional punch of theatre.

9 Frisky & Mannish (12 Nov, age 16+)

The cult musical comedy duo present their latest extravaganza, PopLab. Pioneers of ‘popmusicy- seriocomic-mashparodic-s t e r e o p h o n i c - L O U D - v a u d e v i l l i a n -sketchcabaret-throwback-current-old-fangled-new-fashioned-bapsbotty-infotainment', Frisky & Mannish’s twisted pop cabaret is a hilarious ride through musical parodies while skewering topical happenings.

10 A Night At The Musicals (13-14 Nov, age 16+)

Kate RoyalKate Royal
Kate Royal

Olivier Award-winning Le Gateau Chocolat and Queen of the Alternative Drag Scene Jonny Woo drag you through the back catalogue of fabulous musicals, from Gypsy to Grease, Annie and The Lion King. Hilarious hijinks and shady shenanigans abound in this tortured love letter to the glorious genre of musical theatre.

Tickets are from only £10 - go to cft.org.uk