Chichester Festival Theatre Announces Festival 2026
Chichester Festival Theatres Festival 2026 season, encompassing March to October, is announced today by Artistic Director, Justin Audibert and Executive Director, Kathy Bourne.
As six previous Chichester productions play in London and around the country, Festival 2026 includes eight world premieres, a classic summer musical and Shakespeares most popular comedy.
Classic musicals and dramas:
Chichesters first ever production of Lerner & Loewes My Fair Lady will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with set & costume design by Peter McKintosh and choreography by Stephen Mear
Justin Audibert and Hannah Joss co-direct Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream, set amidst the Sussex raves of the 1990s, with Munya Chawawa as Bottom and Jemima Rooper as Titania
World premieres:
David Haig plays Arthur Conan Doyle in his own new play Magic, with Hadley Fraser as Harry Houdini, directed by Lucy Bailey in the Festival Theatre
Eclipse by W1A & Twenty Twenty Six writer and director John Morton launches the Minerva season, with Sarah Parish and Rupert Penry-Jones leading the cast
Ian McEwans masterpiece novel Atonement is adapted for the stage by Christopher Hampton, directed by Adam Penford
Geraldine James makes her Chichester debut in 45 Years, adapted for the stage from Andrew Haighs film by Hannah Patterson, directed by Prasanna Puwanarajah
Atlantis by Emily White, about a family battling climate change, is directed by Guy Jones in a co-production with Theatr Clwyd
a small and quiet light by Stephanie Street, with Priyanga Burford as the SOE operative Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, will be co-directed by Diyan Zora and Elin Schofield, in a co-production with Orange Tree Theatre
Antigone Exits by Nina Segal, bringing Greek tragedy blazing into the 21st century, is directed by Jeff James
For family audiences:
Roald Dahls The BFG, adapted by Tom Wells, with additional material by Jenny Worton, in a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, and Roald Dahl Story Company, comes to Chichester direct from Stratford-upon-Avon to open Festival 2026, directed by Daniel Evans
1 Hey! Christmas Tree, written by Vicki Berwick, based on a poem by Michael Morpurgo, with music and lyrics by Eamonn ODwyer, returns following its 2024 premiere directed by Dale Rooks
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre present Stiles & Drewes Peter Pan a musical adventure for Christmas
21,000 £10 & £15 tickets will be available across the season; as well as 10,000 £5 Prologue tickets for 16 30 year olds
The Nest, Chichesters vibrant new studio space for work by emerging artists, has a constantly updating schedule to be found online, with comedy, music and fringe drama
Off-stage events, backstage tours, free live music and family activities
Justin Audibert and Kathy Bourne said:
As we announce our brand new season, six previous Chichester Festival Theatre productions are playing in London or around the country reaching 472,000 people in 2025. Its a powerful testimony to the quality and appeal of the shows we make here that many go on to delight audiences far beyond West Sussex.
Festival 2026 features no fewer than eight world premieres, as well as our eagerly anticipated summer musical and Shakespeares most popular comedy. In the Festival Theatre are five shows with spectacle and theatricality at their very heart, including Chichesters first ever production of My Fair Lady. In the intimate Minerva, five new plays explore family and our place in the world on a very human level. All ask searching questions about ourselves and our society, while often making us laugh too.
Theyll be brought to life by a superb group of directors, designers and actors. Were delighted to be working in partnership with the RSC, Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, and Roald Dahl Story Company on The BFG; and with Theatr Clwyd and Orange Tree Theatre on later productions this season.
Our new studio space The Nest, which opened in 2025, has brought something utterly different and unique to Chichesters nightlife, with a constantly refreshed programme. December brings a welcome second chance to see the enchanting Hey! Christmas Tree, and our brilliant Youth Theatre with a sparkling musical version of Peter Pan.