Chichester Festival Theatre | Autumn 2020 e-brochure

cft.org.uk

WELCOME It’s always a pleasure to welcome audiences to a new Chichester season, but it’s with particular joy that we welcome you to this very special Autumn season. After six long months of our Theatre being dark and empty, we cannot wait to see you again.

In putting together this eclectic mix of drama, music, cabaret and comedy, we hope there is something to entice people of all ages to experience once more the uniquely uplifting exhilaration of live performance. The season includes some of the most distinguished names in drama and music, alongside ground-breaking contemporary performers.

We’ve worked long and hard to put all the necessary measures in place for your health and comfort, and to make your visit COVID-safe.

Chichester Festival Theatre’s doors are opening and ready to entertain you again!

Kathy Bourne Executive Director

We are grateful to our sponsors Seaward Properties for their sponsorship of this brand new season

Daniel Evans Artistic Director

29 OCTOBER – 7 NOVEMBER

CRAVE

By Sarah Kane

In a damaged world, four characters search for the light. Angry, funny, defiant, kind and cruel, Crave is a deeply personal meditation on the meaning of love. Pulsing with loss and longing, its resonance will be doubly powerful as we begin to reconnect our lives after the loneliness and seclusion inflicted by a global pandemic.

distanced audience in the Festival Theatre and – in a first for Chichester – simultaneously live-streamed to global digital audiences.

Originally due to play in the Spiegeltent this autumn, Crave will be staged to a live, socially

Contains strong language. Ages 16+ 60mins

Written by one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century, this new staging is directed by Tinuke Craig with designs by Alex Lowde.

Sponsored by

FESTIVAL THEATRE £25 | £20 | £15 | £10 29 Oct – 7 Nov, 7.30pm (Sat 7 Nov 5pm & 8pm) LIVE STREAM £20 | £15 | £10 31 Oct – 7 Nov, 7.30pm (Sat 7 Nov 5pm & 8pm)

See Booking Page for details

cft.org.uk

Supported by Crave Commissioning Circle

1 NOVEMBER

CELEBRATING SONDHEIM Sunday In The Park With Daniel

Artistic Director and Olivier Award-winning actor Daniel Evans hosts another dazzling cornucopia of music and song to celebrate musical legend Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. He will be joined on the Festival Theatre stage by stars from the West End to perform numbers from some of Sondheim’s major and lesser-known works.

Gabrielle Brooks wowed audiences at CFT’s Concert in the Park whilst Clive Rowe was last seen in Chichester in Me and My Girl.

Jenna Russell starred opposite Daniel Evans in Sunday in the Park with George in London and on Broadway, for which they both won Olivier Awards. Hannah Waddingham makes a welcome return following Kiss Me, Kate (2012).

FESTIVAL THEATRE £30 Sun 1 Nov, 3pm & 7pm

Proceeds from this fundraising concert will support our work with vulnerable young people.

cft.org.uk

11 – 25 NOVEMBER

FACING THE MUSIC Patricia Routledge | Sheila Hancock | Michael Ball Three distinguished and much-loved performers join writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson to discuss their lives in musical theatre, illustrated by treasured recordings.

Patricia Routledge has acted in many productions at Chichester Festival Theatre

over five decades, ranging from The Magistrate to Office Suite.

Sheila Hancock’s most recent Chichester appearance was in This Is My Family (2019).

Michael Ball returns to Chichester where he starred in Sweeney Todd (2011) and Mack and Mabel (2015).

FESTIVAL THEATRE £25 | £10

Patricia Routledge Wed 11 Nov, 2.30pm Sheila Hancock Wed 18 Nov, 2.30pm Michael Ball Wed 25 Nov, 2.30pm

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11 – 25 NOVEMBER

MUSIC FOR NOVEMBER NIGHTS A feast of music to enjoy on Wednesday evenings in November

I’LL TELL YOU HOW THE SUN ROSE: A Song For Each Hour Of The Day Song recital with Kate Royal Internationally acclaimed soprano Kate Royal brings the UK premiere of a new song recital programme to Chichester. This selection of 24 songs, by Mahler, Liszt, Schumann, Vaughan Williams, Britten and many more, follows a young man from dawn to dusk and through the trials of a lonely night.

ELÉGIE Rachmaninoff – A Heart In Exile Olivier Award-winning actor Henry Goodman returns to Chichester with concert pianist

Lucy Parham. Elégie chronicles the life of composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff in words and music. The concert includes many of his best-loved works for solo piano, alongside a fascinating narrative drawn from the composer’s letters and diaries.

JOE STILGOE – OUT OF THE SHED After performing 67 online shows to over 150,000 worldwide viewers during lockdown, Joe Stilgoe has emerged from his shed with a new intimate show – his own songs, classics from Jimmy Webb to Joni Mitchell to Stevie Wonder to Cole Porter – and the spotlight back on his first love, the piano.

Kate Royal Wed 11 Nov, 7.30pm Henry Goodman and Lucy Parham Wed 18 Nov, 7.30pm Joe Stilgoe Wed 25 Nov, 7.30pm

cft.org.uk

FESTIVAL THEATRE £22 | £10

12 NOVEMBER

FRISKY & MANNISH PopLab

Cult musical comedy duo Frisky & Mannish bring their latest extravaganza to Chichester.

Join them in their PopLab to peek down the microscope at all their latest research projects.

Have they found an effective vaccine for the contagious virus sweeping through the pop world? Who is the latest to benefit from their 80s Dance-Pop Conservation Programme?

Just how can Coldplay be so popular even though everyone you ask says they hate them?

Pioneers of ‘popmusicy-seriocomicmashparodic-stereophonic-LOUDvaudevillian-sketchcabaret-throwbackcurrent-oldfangled-newfashioned-bapsbottyinfotainment’, Frisky & Mannish’s twisted pop cabaret is a hilarious ride through musical parodies while skewering topical happenings.

Ages 16+

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‘Pure exhilarating brilliance from start to finish’ Chortle cft.org.uk

FESTIVAL THEATRE £15 | £10 Thu 12 Nov, 8pm

13 & 14 NOVEMBER

Le Gateau Chocolat & Jonny Woo Following two sell-out shows in last year’s Chichester Spiegeltent, Olivier Award-winning Le Gateau Chocolat and Queen of the Alternative Drag scene Jonny Woo take to the Festival Theatre stage to drag you through the back catalogue of fabulous musicals, from Gypsy to Grease, Annie and The Lion King.

Hilarious hijinks and shady shenanigans abound in this raucous night of ballsy ballads, delightful duets and slaughtered show tunes; a tortured love letter to the glorious genre of musical theatre.

Ages 16+

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‘You’re guaranteed to leave feeling happier than when you came in’ Broadway World cft.org.uk

FESTIVAL THEATRE £18 | £10 13 & 14 Nov, 8pm

17 NOVEMBER

COMEDY NIGHT Rich Hall | Suzi Ruffell | Andrew Ryan Forget your troubles and get laugh-aloud happy with a blissful night of superb stand-up comedy.

the Edinburgh Festival, racking up critical acclaim. A regular on BBC R4, she hosts R2’s Explicable Me and her podcast series OUT with Suzi Ruffell, and co-hosts the hit podcast Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen.

Renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences and delightful musical sequences, the awardwinning Montana native Rich Hall returns to Chichester. In addition to fronting many successful BBC Four documentaries, he has appeared on QI, Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You. The working-class comedian of her generation, Suzi Ruffell has had five sell-out runs at

Acting as MC is Andrew Ryan, one of the most in-demand acts on the UK comedy circuit. A prolific contributor to talkSPORT, Andrew has a dedicated YouTube channel that covers his golfing exploits. His show Sure, You Know Yourself won Best New Show at the 2018 Leicester Comedy Festival Awards.

Ages 14+

FESTIVAL THEATRE £22 | £10 Tue 17 Nov, 7.30pm

cft.org.uk

19 – 21 NOVEMBER

THE BLACK CAT CABARET Salon des Artistes

Salon des Artistes is an evening of five-star variety from London’s much-loved bohemian show troupe The Black Cat Cabaret, returning to Chichester following their sell-out appearances at last year’s Spiegeltent season.

latest creations. Comic chansons, superior showmanship, thrilling acrobatics and an enchanting house band are presided over by the incomparable emcee Miss Frisky (Frisky & Mannish).

Inspired by the artistic Salons of vintage Montmartre, this is a chance to spend the evening with a diverse array of exceptional performers from the cabaret and Fringe circuit as they come together to share their

Leave your troubles at the door and join us for this year’s Salon!

Ages 16+

‘Cabaret in its most extraordinarily suave form’ Guardian

cft.org.uk

FESTIVAL THEATRE £18 | £10 19 −21 Nov, 8pm

24 NOVEMBER

COMEDY NIGHT Russell Kane | Rosie Jones | Charlie Baker Forget your troubles and get laugh-aloud happy with another blissful night of superb stand-up comedy.

Multi award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane – last seen in Chichester in 2016 – is best known for the flagship BBC Sounds podcast, Evil Genius, as well as other podcast Boys Don’t Cry. His TV appearances include three series of Live At The Electric.

With her infectious laugh and high energy, Rosie Jones has become a must-see act on the comedy circuit. She has completed two sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

and wrote for Netflix’s Sex Education.

Her many TV appearances include Live At The Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and The Last Leg. MC Charlie Baker’s versatile talents as a stand-up comedian, actor and highly acclaimed jazz-singer have earned him sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival as well as numerous TV appearances from An Extra Slice to The Premier League Show.

He’ll be taking his new show Cream Before Jam on the circuit in 2021.

Ages 14+

FESTIVAL THEATRE £22 | £10 Tue 24 Nov, 7.30pm

cft.org.uk

26 – 28 NOVEMBER

SHIFT

Barely Methodical Troupe Barely Methodical Troupe are at the forefront of a new kind of highly entertaining physical performance. Their sold-out production Bromance at the Spiegeltent last year drew gasps, thrills and rave reviews from audiences of all ages; don’t miss this new chance to catch this remarkable and ground-breaking company.

Shift explores shifting perceptions and realities through power-based acrobatics, mixing show-stopping circus tricks with the emotional punch of theatre.

Ages 8+

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‘Jaw-droppingly magnificent’ Stage cft.org.uk

FESTIVAL THEATRE £18 | £15 | £10 26 & 27 Nov, 7pm 28 Nov, 3pm & 7pm

30 NOVEMBER – 3 DECEMBER

Prepare to unwrap Christmas with a delightfully festive evening of seasonal words and music.

West End singers – Rebecca Trehearn and Rebecca Caine – matched with five fine musicians, will join CFT Artistic Director Daniel Evans and a special guest to sing a range of traditional carols, and share some favourite yuletide poems and prose, with some surprises.

A joyous and warming start to the season, with a free glass of mulled wine or fruit punch for every member of the audience.

Rebecca Trehearn’s many West End appearances include Show Boat for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Rebecca is also a regular on Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night.

Rebecca Caine’s career has been divided between opera (including Glyndebourne and ENO) and musical theatre. She created the role of Cosette in Les Misérables; other West End appearances include The Phantom of the Opera and My Fair Lady.

FESTIVAL THEATRE £29 | £24 | £20 | £15 | £10 30 Nov – 2 Dec, 7.30pm 3 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

cft.org.uk

Sponsored by

11 DECEMBER – 2 JANUARY

PINOCCHIO

A new adaptation by Anna Ledwich | Music by Tom Brady From the original novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Chichester Festival Youth Theatre present a brand new version of this classic tale.

it isn’t easy hiding the truth – especially when your nose gets longer with every lie you tell…

The wooden puppet Pinocchio can’t stop getting into trouble, despite the best efforts of the Blue Fairy and the Cricket to keep him on track. He encounters a host of fascinating characters as he journeys to Wonderland and the world beneath the sea, but discovers that

Director Dale Rooks (The Butterfly Lion, The Midnight Gang) will bring her trademark visual flair and gift for storytelling to this darkly magical reinvention.

Ages 7+

FESTIVAL THEATRE £30 | £25 | £20 | £15 | £10 11−12, 14−19, 21−23, 27−30 Dec & 2 Jan, 7pm 17−19, 22−24, 28−31 Dec & 2 Jan, 2pm | 26 Dec, 4pm Relaxed Performance, 27 Dec, 2pm | £15 | £10 cft.org.uk

Sponsored by

BOOKING

BOOK ONLINE

DISCOUNTS

cft.org.uk box.office@cft.org.uk 01243 781312 Please note that the Box Office is currently a reduced team, so we would recommend booking online wherever possible.

For Monday to Thursday performances of Crave (venue tickets), A Merry Little Christmas Celebration and Pinocchio* (excludes lower prices)

FRIENDS OF CFT £2 off

(Friends can book up to four discounted tickets per production)

PAYMENT

OVER 60s, FULL-TIME STUDENTS, JOBSEEKER ALLOWANCE AND INCOME SUPPORT CLAIMANTS £2 off

Cards: MasterCard and Visa.

We are not currently accepting cheques or cash.

E-TICKETS All tickets will be sent by email. You do not have to print these, simply show your e-tickets on a mobile device to be scanned on entry to the Theatre.

WELCOMING YOU BACK SAFELY Your safety is important to us. To this end, we have put a number of COVID-secure measures in place. Read more at cft.org.uk/covid-guidelines

#Autumn2020

For Barely Methodical Troupe: Shift and Pinocchio* FAMILY TICKETS Half Price for up to four Under 16s attending with every full priced paying adult. Excludes Saturday evenings. All tickets must be booked and paid for in a single transaction. *Pinocchio - excludes performances 26-31 December inclusive.

For all performances PROLOGUE: 16-30 YEAR OLDS £5 tickets available for all events cft.org.uk/prologue CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES If you have specific access requirements, please join our Access List cft.org.uk/accesslist

CRAVE LIVE STREAM We are delighted, for the first time at Chichester, to simultaneously live stream this production so that audiences around the world can attend virtually and experience live theatre from the comfort of their own home.

Live streaming tickets are priced £10, £15 or £20. Everyone will get the same view regardless of which ticket they buy, however we’re asking you to consider paying what you normally would for a night at the Theatre. This will help support CFT, as we continue to produce creatively ambitious, world-class theatre and connect with our communities. It’s possible for a group to watch together on just one purchased ticket but, if you feel able, please consider buying multiple live stream tickets if more than one person is watching.

Please note, once live stream tickets are purchased you will be sent confirmation of your booking; we will then be in touch in advance of the event with full details on how to join the performance online.

cft.org.uk

SUPPORT US

As a registered charity, never before has Chichester Festival Theatre been so reliant on the generosity of our supporters. We are grateful to each and every donor, sponsor and member who has stood by us during this difficult year and allowed us to continue sharing the power of live art with our communities – we could not have done it without you. As we look forward to the future, there are a variety of ways you can get involved and show support for Chichester Festival Theatre.

HOW YOU CAN HELP You can create an immediate difference by making an online donation to support the theatre: cft.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation Join the Friends scheme and benefit from priority booking, discounts and special events.

Membership from £35 As a Festival Player, you will receive advance priority booking and exclusive events as thanks for your generous support.

Membership from £250 (£75 minimum plus £175+ donation).

By supporting individual shows, Commissioning and Patrons Circle members can follow a production from ‘page to stage’ and receive exclusive behind-the-scenes access and detailed insights into the creative process. Membership from £800 (£100 minimum plus £700+ donation).

Benefactors enjoy unique access to CFT, with a bespoke relationship based around the projects you support. Gifts from £3,000 For businesses, a Corporate Partnership is the perfect way to support a local Theatre whilst benefiting from increased profile, branding, advertising, hospitality, exclusive events and tickets.

Please get in touch for more information: cft.org.uk/support-us | development.team@cft.org.uk | 01243 812881 cft.org.uk/support-us

SUPPORTERS PRINCIPAL PARTNERS

BENEFACTORS

Diamond Level

Prof E.F Juniper and Mrs Jilly Styles

Gold Level

HOLIDAY LETS

Silver Level

W E A LT H S O L U T I O N S

Deborah Alun-Jones Robin and Joan Alvarez David and Elizabeth Benson Philip Berry George W. Cameron OBE and Madeleine Cameron Sir William and Lady Castell David and Sonia Churchill John and Pat Clayton John and Susan Coldstream Clive and Frances Coward Yvonne and John Dean Jim Douglas Mrs Veronica J Dukes Melanie Edge Sir Vernon and Lady Ellis Val and Richard Evans Simon and Luci Eyers Angela and Uri Greenwood Sir Michael and Lady Heller Liz Juniper The family of Patricia Kemp Roger Keyworth Jonathan and Clare Lubran Selina and David Marks Mrs Sheila Meadows Jerome and Elizabeth O’Hea Philip and Gail Owen Graham and Sybil Papworth Nick and Jo Pasricha Mrs Denise Patterson Stuart and Carolyn Popham Jans Ondaatje Rolls Dame Patricia Routledge DBE David and Sophie Shalit Simon and Melanie Shaw Greg and Katherine Slay David and Alexandra Soskin Alan and Jackie Stannah Oliver Stocken CBE Peter and Wendy Usborne

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

CORPORATE PARTNERS Addison Law Bishops Printers Chichester College Joanna Williams

The J Leon Group Westminster Abbey William Liley Financial Services Ltd

Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Artswork The Arthur Williams Charitable Trust The Bateman Family Charitable Trust The Chartered Accountants’ Livery Charity Chichester District Council Elizabeth, Lady Cowdray’s Charity Trust The G D Charitable Trust The John Coates Charitable Trust The Noël Coward Foundation The Roddick Foundation …and all those who wish to remain anonymous

cft.org.uk/support-us