James Nesbitt will make his Chichester Festival Theatre debut in the first original solo musical from Calendar Girls writer Tim Firth as part of a packed 2019 season announced by artistic director Daniel Evans this week.
The Cold Feet favourite will appear alongside Chichester returnees Sheila Hancock (Sister Act, West End) and Clare Burt (last season’s Flowers For Mrs Harris) in Firth’s This Is My Family.
Directed by Evans who also took the helm of the show’s premiere production at the Sheffield Crucible in 2013, This Is My Family boasts a book, lyrics and music by Firth. The show which also toured the UK in 2014 collected the UK Theatre Award for Best Musical and a Best Supporting Actress Award for Sian Phillips.
The Chichester production will play the Minerva Theatre from 20 April until 15 June with a press night on 29 June. The production will be designed by Richard Kent, with musical supervision, musical direction and orchestrations by Caroline Humphris, lighting by David Plater, sound by Paul Arditti and movement by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille.
Following on from a successful 2018 season, Evans’ star-studded third year at the prestigious venue will also include a major new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved Oklahoma!
Featuring stage and screen star Josie Lawrence as Aunt Eller, recent Mountview Academy of Arts graduate Hyoie O’Grady (Les Misérables) as Curly and Amara Okereke, the winner of the 2018 Stage Debut Award For Best Actress In A Musical (for her performance as Cosette in Les Misérables) as Laurey.
Jeremy Sams will return to Chichester to direct the production which will feature set designs by Robert Jones and choreography by Matt Cole. Costume designs will be by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, with musical supervision, musical direction and dance arrangements by Nigel Lilley, orchestrations by David Cullen, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis.
The production will play the Festival Theatre from 15 July until 7 September with a press night on 22 July. There will be a Relaxed Performance of Oklahoma! on 29 August at 2.30pm, especially suitable for individuals, groups and families with children on the autism spectrum, sensory and communication disorders or anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed theatre environment.
Unveiling details of his latest season at Chichester, Evans said: “Festival 2019 continues our aim of giving audiences the breadth of work they expect and relish. We’re premiering four plays… These, and our array of revivals and musicals, will be brought to life by an outstanding company of actors.
“Our directors include Nicole Charles, Kate Hewitt and Holly Race Roughan, all bright stars at the start of their careers, alongside the welcome Chichester debuts of Paul Foster and Paul Miller.”
Headline actors also announced for 2019 include: Hugh Bonneville, Nancy Carroll, Hadley Fraser, Dervla Kirwan, Gerald Kyd, John Simm and Rachael Stirling.
Lucy Betts will once again take charge of the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s festive production. Following on from last year’s crowd-pleasing version of Sleeping Beauty, the production of The Wizard of Oz will play the Festival Theatre from 14-29 December with a Relaxed Performance on 27 December at 2pm. The set will be designed by Simon Higlett, with costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight, lighting by James Whiteside and sound by Gregory Clarke.
Angela Thomas
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