Michael Pennington closed the Festival Theatre with a warming, heart felt speech onstage at the end of the final performance of Antony and Cleopatra.

While recovering from his almighty death scene that night, he had a thought. A thought like no other. He wondered if there was someone out there who walked through the doors of the Festival Theatre in 1962 for the very first performance of Uncle Vanya, and if there was someone in the audience who was walking into the auditorium for the first time for the closing of the Festival Theatre in its 50th season...

...And there was. Sebastian Dyer (14) was at Chichester Festival Theatre for the first time, and he was lucky enough to meet Sir Robert Hill (77) who saw the very first performance all those years ago in 1962.

What a lovely coincidence.

Just one reminder of all of the wonderful memories this theatre has given, and that as Michael Pennington promised, 'it doesn't plan on going anywhere, any time soon!'

The Festival Theatre is closed for 18 months for a major redevelopment, but Festival 2013 will still take place, details will be announced early next year.

For more infomation please see RENEW.