Peter Coxon is delighted to be returning to the roles of Theseus and Oberon as New Theatre Productions revisit A Midsummer Night’s Dream for their 2026 Festival of Chichester appearance.

As ever, they will be in West Dean Gardens’ beautiful Pergola Theatre.

They will be staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream on June 29, July 1, 3, 7, 9 & 11; and Living Together on June 30, July 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 – Shakespeare’s everlasting masterpiece alternating with Ayckbourn's classic comedy.

“I think this is my 14th year with the company,” Peter says. “The first one I did was The Tempest. My great friend Eddie Lintott was a great amateur actor, and we did the community theatre plays theatre at Chichester Festival Theatre, and it was through that that I got to know people at New Theatre Productions. A few years went by and at that time I was trying to be a professional. And then it was a couple of years after that that I became involved with the company and auditioned and the rest is history.

placeholder image — Peter Coxon (contributed pic)

“I think it is the people that make the company… and also the venue.

“(Company chairman) Peter Breskal is very good at keeping a lovely company and creating a company where everyone gets on. If someone does start trying to create a nasty atmosphere, they don't come back. Peter is very loyal to the people that he's got and to the people that get on.

“It is also the place. It is the perfect space, probably the best open-air performance space that we have in this country. I did Arundel Castle and obviously you've got the castle there in the background but here you've got the pergola and you've got the hills behind and you've got the background and you've got such beautiful gardens. There is magic there in being outdoors.

“Every show is different with a different atmosphere. Sometimes you can whisper and people will hear you but then other times you've got the wind coming into your face and you've got to shout. I love doing it and I always hope that I will get the call to come back and do it again.

“We are doing A Midsummer night's Dream in a traditional Elizabethan style. I'm growing my beard! And we will have wonderful costumes. It's going to look spectacular.”

And obviously, it’s the perfect play to do in the garden setting: “You have got that magic. You've got the whole thing about couples falling in love and falling out of love, and I think people understand that.

“I am playing Theseus and Oberon which I did ten years ago when we did A Midsummer Night's Dream. There are some quick changes but you can do the two characters. The big thing is getting the difference between the two of them. Obviously costume helps and the writing helps, but that's the challenge and it's great fun.”

Tickets £10 available on the night at the Pergola Theatre entrance or in advance from

[email protected]. You are welcome to bring your own picnics and enjoy the

gardens from 5:30pm. Plays start 7.30pm. See the West Dean Gardens website for further info regarding buying picnics on site or using the restaurant there.

The 2026 Festival of Chichester is delighted to welcome back Edward Cooke Family Law as its principal sponsor. The Festival is also generously supported by Chichester City Council, firm friends to the Festival since its inception.