The original Festival Theatre building has served us well over the past 50 years. It was built on a budget and it is now operating on a scale way beyond what was envisaged in 1962 and urgently needs a 21st Century upgrade.

Following a wide consultation programme during 2011 with our staff, artists, audience members and local interest groups - along with Arts Council England, Chichester District Council, West Sussex County Council, English Heritage, Twentieth Century Society and the Theatres Trust - Chichester Festival Theatre and Haworth Tompkins Architects have proposed an imaginative and cost-effective solution.

In December 2011, the redevelopment plans for the Festival Theatre received unanimous approval from Chichester District Council for planning permission and listed building consent.

Latest News from the Arts Council

Arts Council England (ACE) has announced that Chichester Festival Theatre has been awarded £12million towards the RENEW redevelopment project. Read the full Press Release

This is a ringing endorsement of the project and of the organisation’s artistic and commercial success. It immediately unlocks an additional £8million in pledged local support from businesses, trusts and individuals, and most notably from West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council who have pledged £1.5million and £500,000 respectively.

The fundraising for at least £22 million, ongoing for two years now, will continue in earnest to raise the essential remaining £2 million.

The ACE news enables us to put contracts out to tender immediately, with a view to starting the works before the end of this year.

The planned works will take 18 months to complete; the Festival Theatre is now closed and will re-open in time for Festival 2014.

The planned works incorporate essential repairs to the Grade II* listed Festival Theatre, a new extension, increased seating capacity, improved access and public facilities, improved backstage facilities and changes to make the building more energy efficient.

To confirm, there will not be a Winter 2012 season. Festival 2013 will be announced in February - read more about Festival 2013.

Details on Festival 2014

Chichester Festival Theatre has submitted a major application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the Grade 2* listed features of the Festival Theatre and to support an exciting three-year community participation programme. The result will be known by the end of the year and if successful the programme would start in January 2013.

Thank you to all of the many organisations and individuals who have supported us so far.

News of the project will be regularly updated and displayed in the Festival Theatre foyer and here on the website.

For more information please contact Sarah Mansell, Campaign Director Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester West Sussex PO19 6AP. 01243 812902 sarah.mansell@cft.org.uk.