Theatre tackles tough times with host of big names

Festivities director Amanda Sharp stresses that they cannot afford to sustain losses in the way they did last year.

But she is determined that this year's festival will see no cutting back in terms of content or quality.

Last year saw the festivities dip into their reserves, with the festival making an undisclosed loss. Inevitably, a huge amount of caution will go into the programming, part of which was announced last week.

But the good news is that big names are already lining up, including the London Mozart Players, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Julian Clary, Melvyn Bragg and Nigel Lawson, for the 17 days of world-class music and leading names from the worlds of politics, current affairs, comedy, literature and art (June 26-July 12).

For more arts and entertainments and this story in full, see West Sussex Gazette March 25