Tickets on sale this week for Chichester Festival Theatre's Autumn season
Harriet Clifford
Monday, September 28, 2020
Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) has announced its new Autumn season of live, socially distanced drama, music, comedy and cabaret, running from late October to early January. Booking opens for Friends of the Theatre on 30 September and general online booking opens on 2 October.
Performances include Sarah Kane’s Crave, directed by Tinuke Craig, which will come to the Festival Theatre for 10 performances while also being live streamed to digital audiences. A deeply personal meditation of the meaning of love, the play is hoped to be doubly resonant as we emerge from the pain and isolation of the global pandemic.
At the end of November, Barely Methodical Troupe presents Shift, a unique mix of power-based acrobatics, circus tricks and theatre. This exploration of physical performance is suitable for ages 8+ and follows their sold-old performance Bromance at the Spielgeltent last year.
Over the Christmas period, Chichester Festival Youth Theatre presents a new version of Pinocchio by CFT’s writer-in-residence Anna Ledwich, directed by Dale Rooks.
Other performances include music from West End stars, Kate Royal, Joe Stilgoe and comedy and cabaret from The Black Cat Cabaret, Rich Hall, Suzi Ruffell and Russell Kane.
Artistic director Daniel Evans and executive director Kathy Bourne said, ‘It’s always a pleasure to welcome audiences to a new Chichester season, but it’s with particular joy that we welcome them to this very special Autumn season, after six long months of our Theatre being dark and empty.
‘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 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 our audiences’ and artists’ health and comfort, and to make their visit Covid-safe. While social distancing is in place, we are having to explore other forms of live performance to ensure the theatre’s future sustainability. For now, we are celebrating that Chichester Festival Theatre’s doors are opening again.’
General tickets start from £10, while 16 - 30-year-olds can purchase tickets for £5 by visiting www.cft.org.uk/prologue. Due to social distancing, the auditorium’s capacity has been reduced to less than 50% of its normal size, so audiences are being invited to donate the cost of an ‘empty’ £10 seat to support the theatre’s activities and the employment of freelance artists.