Expect an international feel this summer at Chichester Festival Theatre

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
We can expect an international feel when the 2025 Chichester Festival Theatre summer season is announced on February 13.

One show has already been confirmed – Beverley Knight, whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia (for which she won an Olivier Award) and Sister Act, will play Rosetta Tharpe in Marie and Rosetta by George Brant, directed by Monique Touko, a co-production with Rose Theatre running in Chichester’s Minerva Theatre from June 25-July 26. The rest of the season will be confirmed soon.

In the meantime, artistic director Justin Audibert is happy to drop a hint or two…

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“What is really interesting is that I was not thinking about a theme for 2025, but actually there is a theme that emerged. (Last) season was quite an English-looking season about England whereas (2025) there is going to be a very international feel, looking out at the world. There will be cutting-edge new plays plus world classics which are not necessarily written by English writers. As I say, it will have much more of an international feel and I think you're going to be very happy with the roster of directors and performers that we will have.”

And in a sense it's a reflection of the momentum the theatre gained in 2024: “2024 was perceived as having gone well and suddenly the telephone begins to go a bit more and the emails ping in a bit more. And people expect Chichester to have full houses. I'm just very, very lucky in that respect.”

“And what's great is because we're in this position, actually, there'll be a quite a raft of exciting casting when we announce because we're a bit ahead, really.”

So it is easier a second time, with the experience under your belt?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I don't know if it's easier because I feel just as much pressure. And I don't want to lose the audiences that we had last year. But also I'm thinking about how can we add to them? How can we grow them? What are the things we're not doing? So within that there are a big set of challenges.

“And of course, next year, we will have The Nest as well, our new 120-seat studio theatre, which is much more aimed at experimental work and new audiences. And that's going to add another kind of dynamic in the organisation, but a dynamic that I have to say, our team are really excited about; they want to deliver this slightly more punk theatre that you can do in a space like The Nest. Frankly, our audiences expect a certain calibre of production values in the Minerva and the Festival Theatre, quite rightly. But you know, what's lovely is The Nest gives us a chance to ask: what are the basics of storytelling, performer, minimal lighting and sound, telling a story. It will be a fabulous addition.”

Booking details for CFT’s Festival 2025 will be announced on February 13. CFT Friends and Champions priority booking will open on Saturday, February 22 online and Tuesday, February 25 by phone and in person. General booking opens online on Saturday, March 1, and by phone and in person from Tuesday, March 4. Visit cft.org.uk for further details.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice