Chichester theatre shortlisted for Great British Theatres Awards
Chichester’s newest theatre, Chichester Nest, has been shortlisted for the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards, set to celebrate outstanding theatre buildings and their contribution to communities across the UK.
Chichester Nest is in the running for a prestigious national award recognising excellence in theatre design and development, as part of the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards.
The awards ceremony will take place at Central Hall Westminster on Monday (November 2) as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Theatres Trust, the organisation that supports and campaigns for the country’s theatres.
Chichester Nest is shortlisted in the Great New Build category, which celebrates new theatre buildings, alongside Chichester Festival Theatre, which has also been nominated in the Great Green Theatre category for its commitment to environmental sustainability.
The awards attracted almost 200 nominations from across the UK, with categories recognising achievements in theatre architecture, renovation, environmental responsibility, community engagement and the use of public spaces.
The ceremony will be hosted by West End and Broadway performer Marisha Wallace, with presenters including playwright James Graham, Olivier Award-winning actor Janie Dee, musician and actor Gary Kemp, and performers Siobhan Redmond, Tobias Turley, Shanay Holmes, Hammed Animashaun and Zoë Armer.
The evening will also feature musical performances. Wallace, whose theatre credits include Dreamgirls, Waitress and Cabaret, will perform during the ceremony, while Keziah Ibe will sing I Could Have Danced All Night from Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of My Fair Lady.
Wimbledon-based Polka Theatre, which is shortlisted for awards recognising community connection and public space, will also present a preview of its forthcoming production of Peter Pan.
The Great British Theatres Awards aim to recognise theatres of all sizes and celebrate the important role they play in their local communities.
The ceremony marks a milestone year for Theatres Trust, which has spent five decades supporting theatre buildings and the communities that use them.
The inaugural awards are being produced by Green Room Ents Ltd in partnership with Theatres Trust, with the winners to be announced at the ceremony on November 2, 2026.