Chichester Festival Theatre Programme 2019

One of Britain’s best-loved regional theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre is a must-visit during a stay at Quay Quarters. With an international line-up of acclaimed plays and musicals, there’s never a dull moment at our local theatre.

Whether clicking our ruby heels together for The Wizard of Oz or shouting “the dagger’s behind you!” at Macbeth, the Quay Quarters crew loves a trip to the theatre. Here’s our hand-picked guide to what’s on at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2019; just one part of a rich cultural scene in Chichester near our luxury bed & breakfast accommodation and holiday cottages.

Main House

APRIL 26-MAY 25 – Shadowlands, by William Nicholson, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh

C S Lewis, legendary author of the Chronicles of Narnia, tries to juggle an ordered home life with the demands of his all-male college at Oxford. But when he falls in love with Joy Gresham, a wild and passionate New York poet, his world gets turned upside down. Starring Hugh Bonneville as Lewis, this award-winning play has been adapted for both TV and film.

JUNE 7-29 Plenty, by David Hare, directed by Kate Hewitt

Ex-secret agent Susan Traherne is all at sea. Twenty years after her heroic exploits in Nazi-occupied France,she’s stuck in an unhappy marriage to a wealthy diplomat, nostalgic for the romance and danger of her youth. David Hare’s acclaimed play zips forwards and backwards in time as Britain loses its way in the world – and Susan tries to remake her past.

JULY 15- SEPTEMBER 7 – Oklahoma!, music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, directed by Jeremy Sams

When pretty farm girl Laurey Williams rides into cowboy Curly McClain’s life, he can barely contain his joy. But the sly, mysterious farm-hand Jud Fry has his sinsiter eyes on Laurey as well. This rollicking, thigh-slapping musical is a true American classic beloved by all ages. If you haven’t yet discovered the eternal joys of Oklahoma!, now’s your chance at Chichester Festival theatre.

SEPTEMBER 21 – OCTOBER 26 – Macbeth, By William Shakespeare, directed by Paul Miller

Lord Macbeth (John Simm) is a national hero in Scotland, his enemies vanquished. But when a trio of witches make an ambiguous prophecy, will his mind start to crack? After the scheming Lady Macbeth hatches a plot to murder King Duncan, both their worlds fall into madness and chaos. This electrifying new take on Shakespeare’s classic play is a must-see.

DECEMBER 14-29 -Chichester Festival Youth Theatre: The Wizard of Oz, by L Frank Baum, adapted by John Kane from the motion picture screenplay, directed by Lucy Betts

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…” When young Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept away by a prairie tornado, they find themselves in a strange and unfamiliar land: Oz. dust off your ruby slippers and join Chichester Festival Youth Theatre along the yellow brick road for this classic tale of friendship, magic and finding yourself all over again.

Minerva

APRIL 20 – JUNE 15 – This Is My Family, a musical by Tim Firth, directed by Daniel Evans

Picture it: you’re 13-years old, the world at your feet – and you’ve just won a magazine competition! The prize? A dream holiday for you and your entire family, anywhere in the world. The only trouble is, Nicky’s family isn’t quite as perfect she described in the magazine. This life-affirming musical comedy celebrates the never-ending journey that’s family love.

JULY 21-27 – The Deep Blue Sea, by Terence Rattigan, directed by Paul Foster

London. 1951. In a run-down Ladbroke grove flat, socialite Hester Collyer is found unconscious by her neighbours after taking an overdose of drugs. What happened in poor Hester’s life to cause her to spiral downward? And can she make a recovery? this gripping play by Terence Rattigan unfolds over a single day in just one room.

AUGUST 1-24 – 8 Hotels, a new play by Nicholas Wright, directed by Richard Eyre.

Paul Robeson is an acclaimed singer, actor and political activist famous for Ol Man River. In 1944 he’s touring America as Shakespeare’s Othello. Though he calls fellow actors his friends, in 1940s America they’re far from equals. As relationships sour, bitterness and revenge begin to take hold – with sinister political motives.

AUGUST 30 – SEPTEMBER 28 – Hedda Tesman, by Coredlia Lynn; after Henrik Ibsen; directed by Holly Race Roughan

It’s 2019. Hedda Tesman can’t seem to escape her life as a bored, bitter wifeto a doting husband. But when Thea, her estranged daughter, walks back into their life, the past begins to repeat itself and Hedda sets out on a road of destruction. Coredlia Lynn’s new play is a brilliant take on Isben’s iconic Hedda Gabler, re-imagined for the 21st century.

OCTOBER 5 – NOVEMBER 9 – The Butterfly Lion, by Michael Morpurgo, a new adaptation by Anna Ledwich, directed by Dale Rooks.

“Remember me? Remember Africa?” When little Bertie is packed off to boarding school in England, leaving his African childhood behind, he’s also leaving his best friend – a white lion that Bertie saved as a cub. But when he meets Millie, whose own lion is caged in a French circus, they embark on a magical adventure that celebrates the bonds of friendship and the beauty of nature.

Other Events

SEPTEMBER 21 – Celebrating Iris Murdoch (Talk & Screening)

One of the 20th century’s best-loved authors, Iris Murdoch’s life was a tale of contrasts. when a young Iris (Kate Winslet) falls for timid virgin John Bayley at her Oxford College, the world seems at her feet. But decades later, an older Iris (Judi Dench) struggles with Alzheimer’s under the care of a frustrated John (Jim Broadbent), who won an Oscar for the role). The screening will follow a special talk about the impact and relevance of Murdoch’s rarely-preformed dramatic works.

You’re in for a fine show when you stay in one of our holiday cottages…

Whether you’re in the mood for a matinee after a comfortable night’s sleep and a hearty meal at our luxury bed and breakfast or an evening performance before drinks on the patio of your chosen 5-star holiday cottage by moonlight is more your thing, book to stay with us before or after you see a show at Chichester Festival Theatre and you’re sure to want an encore.