My Fair Lady continues at Chichester Festival Theatre until 5 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have no doubts this production will transfer to the West End, so catch it at Chichester while you can.
Tag Archives | Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester finds its My Fair Lady cast
Casting has been confirmed for Chichester Festival Theatre’s (CFT) first ever production of Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady this summer.
Chichester Festival Theatre 2026 to feature new production of My Fair Lady
Musical theatre producing powerhouse Chichester Festival Theatre will take on Lerner and Loewe’s sublime My Fair Lady as the centrepiece of the venue’s 2026 season
Oliver! original principals to remain with the West End production
The acclaimed original principal cast of Cameron Mackintosh’s award-winning production of Lionel Bart’s timeless Oliver! will remain with the production as enters its second year at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
Top Hat – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
Top Hat was reviewed at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London where it continues until 18 October 2025. The tour continues until 11 April 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ This is escapist entertainment, pure and simple.
West End transfer for hit production of Marie and Rosetta
The critically acclaimed Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT production of George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta will arrive in London’s West End early next year.
Theatre and dates for West End transfer of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The producers of the critically acclaimed The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry have announced the location and dates for the previously announced West End transfer season.
Top Hat – Chichester Festival Theatre
Top Hat continues at Chichester Festival Theatre until 6 September 2025. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Marshall’s spellbinding direction weaves seamless transitions between uproarious comedy and breathtaking dance sequences.
Cast for Chichester’s Top Hat
Broadway star Phillip Attmore will make his UK debut opposite West End star Lucy St Louis in Chichester Festival Theatre’s eagerly anticipated production of Irving Berlin’s dance musical Top Hat.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Minerva Theatre, Chichester
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry continues at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester until 14 June 2025. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★★ “Flawless” isn’t an adjective I find cause to use very often in reviews. This time, however, it expresses my reaction perfectly.
Top Hat and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season
A major new production of Irving Berlin’s dance musical Top Hat and the world premiere of a musical version of Rachel Joyce’s novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will feature in the Chichester Festival Theatre’s (CFT) 2025 season.
Oliver! – Chichester Festival Theatre
Oliver! continues at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 7 September 2024. The production will begin performances at the Gielgud Theatre, London on 14 December 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This show is not lavish; it’s densely packed and full of good stuff like a hearty pie-and-mash supper.
West End transfer for new production of Oliver!
Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre’s new production of Lionel Bart’s timeless Oliver! will follow its summer debut in Chichester by transferring to the West End at the end of the year.
Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh re-conceive Oliver! for Chichester Festival Theatre
A major new production of Lionel Bart’s timeless Oliver! will feature in Justin Audibert’s first season as artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT).
The Sound of Music – Chichester Festival Theatre
The Sound of Music continues at Chichester Festival Theatre until 3 September 2023. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Assassins – Chichester Festival Theatre
Assassins continues at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 24 June 2023. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★
Crazy For You West End transfer – full cast
Full casting has been confirmed for the West End transfer of the Chichester Festival Theatre acclaimed new production of the classic George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy Crazy For You.
Full cast for Chichester Festival Theatre’s Assassins
The full company has been unveiled for the Chichester Festival Theatre’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins.
Three musicals feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2023 programme
A new musical based on the ground-breaking TV series Rock Follies is one of three major musicals and four world premieres to feature in artistic director Daniel Evans’ final season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
London transfer for Chichester Festival Theatre’s Crazy For You
Susan Stroman’s acclaimed new production of the classic George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy Crazy For You will follow its sold-out Chichester Festival Theatre summer season by playing a strictly limited six-week run in the West End.
Five Questions With: Isabelle Methven
ISABELLE METHVEN plays Anne in Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre’s world premiere production of brand-new musical The Famous Five, based on the much-loved books by Enid Blyton, written by Elinor Cook with music and lyrics by Theo Jamieson.
UK Theatre Awards 2022 – The nominees
Leicester Curve’s Billy Elliot, Storyhouse Chester’s Now Is Good, and the Watermill Theatre’s production of Whistle Down the Wind will battle it out for the title of Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards 2022. Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the three hit shows are of among the 2022 nominees […]
Cast for Chichester Festival Theatre’s Local Hero
Tony Award-winning American actor Gabriel Ebert will make his UK stage debut in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Local Hero this autumn. The winner of the 2013 Best Featured Actor in a Musical Tony for his performance as Mr Wormwood in Matilda The Musical, the veteran Broadway and Off-Broadway star will take on the […]
Cast for Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre’s The Famous Five
Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre have unveiled the full cast for the highly anticipated world premiere production of the new musical inspired by Enid Blyton’s much-loved Famous Five adventure stories. Written by award-winning playwright Elinor Cook, with music and lyrics by Theo Jamieson, The Famous Five will make its debut at Theatr Clwyd’s Anthony […]
South Pacific – Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Touring
South Pacific continues at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London until 28 August 2022 before touring until 19 November 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For many, a big-budget musical revival must do more to justify its existence than any other type of theatrical production. New writing is chronically under-supported, and although showbusiness […]
Five Questions With: Gina Beck
GINA BECK is reprising the role of Nellie Forbush in the highly-anticipated Sadler’s Wells season and UK and Ireland tour of Chichester Festival Theatre’s crowd-pleasing production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific. Presented by Jamie Wilson, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Gavin Kalin, and directed by Chichester’s artistic director Daniel Evans, the touring production […]
Crazy For You – Chichester Festival Theatre
Crazy For You continues at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 4 September 2022. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ It’s rare for a show to get a standing ovation at the interval but a full house on press night quickly fell in love with this heatwave-hot revival of the wonderfully silly Crazy For You, sensationally directed and […]
Full company for Chichester’s Crazy For You
Carly Anderson will star opposite Charlie Stemp in Susan Stroman’s new production of the classic George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy Crazy For You at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer. As previously announced, Stemp (Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre) will return to Chichester for the first time since his career-launching performance in the hit revival […]
Three musicals feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2022 season – Susan Stroman makes her debut at the venue
Chichester Festival Theatre’s 60th anniversary season will feature three musicals: Susan Stroman makes her Chichester debut directing and choreographing the Gershwins’ musical comedy Crazy For You, Charlie Stemp returns to Chichester to lead the cast. Local Hero, book by David Greig and music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler, based on the Bill Forsyth film, directed […]
Principal cast for Chichester Festival Theatre’s South Pacific UK and Ireland tour
A number of original cast members will return when Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific embarks on a UK and Ireland tour this summer. Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel) will reprise his performance as Emile de Becque opposite the previously announced Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat) returning […]
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2021
At the end of each year Musical Theatre Review news editor Angela Thomas normally puts together a round-up of all the shows that have received four and five star reviews during the last 12 months, but this year we thought a different approach might be more appropriate. For a start, MTR wants to congratulate all […]
Chichester’s hit South Pacific to tour UK and Ireland in 2022
Chichester Festival Theatre’s crowd-pleasing production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific will embark on a UK and Ireland tour next summer. Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat) and Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel) will reprise their performances in the starring roles of Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque when the touring production […]
South Pacific – Chichester Festival Theatre
South Pacific continues at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 5 September 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Forgive me if I get emotional but South Pacific was the show that gave birth to a lifelong passion for musical theatre 68 years ago when, as an 11-year-old, I was taken to Drury […]
Gina Beck and Alex Young to share starring role in Chichester’s South Pacific
Alex Young will take over as Nellie Forbush part way through the Chichester Festival Theatre’s eagerly-anticipated production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific when original leading lady Gina Beck leaves to await the birth of her second child. The special job share arrangement will mean Beck will rehearse and open in the role as […]
Full casting for Singin’ in the Rain at Sadler’s Wells
Kevin Clifton, Faye Tozer, Charlotte Gooch and Cavin Cornwall will join award-winning dancer and choreographer Adam Cooper when the acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of Singin’ in the Rain plays its eagerly-anticipated summer season at Sadler’s Wells ahead of a 2022 UK tour. Former Strictly pro-turned musical theatre artist Clifton (Rock of Ages UK tour, […]
Chichester Festival Theatre announces full cast for South Pacific
Full casting has been confirmed for the Chichester Festival Theatre’s eagerly-anticipated production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific. As previously announced artistic director Daniel Evans will direct a cast headed by Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat) as Nellie Forbush, Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel) as Emile de Becque, Joanna Ampil (Avenue […]
South Pacific set to be Chichester Festival Theatre’s reopening production
The Chichester Festival Theatre will reopen its doors this summer with the venue’s new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific. Originally planned as the centrepiece of the 2020 season, the production will now make its eagerly-awaited debut at the Festival Theatre from 5 July until 13 July 2021. Announcing the new dates, executive […]
Celebrating Sondheim – Chichester Festival Theatre
Celebrating Sondheim – Encore, streaming from Chichester Festival Theatre until 25 March 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Timed as a 91st birthday tribute to the only composer to have theatres named in his honour on Broadway and in the West End, this reissue of the Celebrating Sondheim concert filmed at […]
Bursts of brilliance from the year theatre stopped
We could have been born with a love of television or comic books or 1930s radio plays. That wouldn’t have been quite so bad. But no, Dionysus, god of theatre, took one look at us and decreed: “On top of the worldwide suffering and loss from Coronavirus, you are to spend the 2020 pandemic almost […]
Chichester Festival Theatre offers another chance to see its Sondheim Celebration
Home viewers will get a second chance to enjoy Chichester Festival Theatre’s sold-out concert Celebrating Sondheim, an encore screening marking Stephen Sondheim’s 91st birthday on 22 March 2021. Hosted by the popular venue’s artistic director Daniel Evans, the star-studded celebration of the music of the legendary composer featured Evans’ co-star for the London and Broadway […]
Musical Theatre Review critics offer their Top 5 theatre picks from 2020
As each year draws to a close, Musical Theatre Review usually pulls together a round-up of all the productions covered that have received four and five star reviews. After such an extraordinary year, during which any production staged has been a triumph over adversity, such an approach seemed inappropriate. Instead, I asked a small group […]
CD Review: Flowers For Mrs Harris – Chichester Cast recording
FLOWERS FOR MRS HARRIS – Chichester Cast recording (SimG Records – SimGR-CD038) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have loved the story of Mrs Ada Harris and her adventure to save up for a new Dior dress ever since I read the book many, many years ago. An old-fashioned story that […]
Chichester’s Flowers For Mrs Harris cast reunites for first official recording
The cast of the Chichester Festival Theatre’s hit 2018 production of Flowers For Mrs Harris has been reunited for the first official recording of Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff’s award-winning musical. Due for release on CD and download on 3 December 2020 by SimG Records, the cast album was recorded in July this year. Unveiling […]
Chichester’s Sondheim Celebration to be live-streamed
Home viewers will get their chance to enjoy Chichester Festival Theatre’s sold-out concert Celebrating Sondheim: Sunday In The Park With Daniel when the star-studded celebration of the music of Stephen Sondheim is streamed live from the Festival Theatre on 1 November at 1pm. Marking the legendary writer’s 90th birthday Celebrating Sondheim: Sunday In The Park With […]
Sondheim celebration planned for Chichester Festival Theatre autumn season
A star-studded celebration of the music of Stephen Sondheim looks set to be among the highlights of a live, socially distanced autumn season of entertainment unveiled by the team at the Chichester Festival Theatre. After hosting the crowd-pleasing Concert In The Park in August, artistic director Daniel Evans will take to the stage once again […]
Open letter to theatre and performance makers
Just hours before the first meeting of the Government’s new recreation and leisure taskforce, a wide-range of companies and venues signed an open letter to theatre and performance makers urging them to become part of a new industry-led freelancers’ task force. Amid warnings that over 1,000 theatres across the country will be closed permanently by […]
Chichester’s South Pacific postponed until 2021 as Festival Theatre cancels 2020 productions
The highly-anticipated Chichester Festival Theatre production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic South Pacific is another major production to fall victim to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis following the venue’s decision to cancel the entire 2020 season. In a statement released this week, executive director Kathy Bourne and artistic director Daniel Evans said: “We are devastated that […]
Flowers For Mrs Harris – Chichester Festival Theatre website
Flowers For Mrs Harris is free to watch on the Chichester Festival Theatre website until 8 May 2020. There’s been precious little feelgood factor about this past miserable month but Chichester Festival Theatre is doing its bit to spread sunshine into our shrivelling lives by offering their charming 2018 production of Flowers For Mrs Harris […]
Flowers for Mrs Harris launches online productions streamed from Chichester Festival Theatre
For the first time, Chichester Festival Theatre is to stream a selection of its archive productions online, beginning with the musical Flowers for Mrs Harris from 9 April 2020 for the Easter weekend. Flowers for Mrs Harris will be available on CFT’s website for 30 days and will be free to watch. Daniel Evans and Kathy Bourne, artistic […]
Love Story anniversary concert moved to September
The 10th anniversary concert performance of the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Love Story has been postponed until 20 September 2020 as the country battles the coronavirus. Originally scheduled to play London’s Cadogan Hall on 17 May, Love Story: 10th Anniversary Concert features original cast members Michael D. Xavier, Emma Williams and Peter Polycarpou. Xavier (Sunset […]
