At Chichester Festival Theatre, we believe that the experience of live art has the power to change lives. Our mission is to enrich our communities – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally – through compelling, entertaining and enlightening theatre.

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s flagship theatres, renowned for the exceptionally high standard of its productions as well as its work with the community and young people. Situated in a cathedral city in West Sussex between the South Downs and the sea, the Festival Theatre’s bold thrust stage design makes it one of England’s most striking playhouses – equally suited to ambitious, epic dramas and world-renowned musicals. Its studio theatre, the Minerva, is particularly noted for premieres of bold new writing alongside intimate revivals.

The Theatres' architecture was designed to be democratic: everyone mingles in the same spacious foyers and the auditoriums allow an uninterrupted view of the stage from every seat. That spirit of inclusivity remains at the heart of our work, on stage and off.

The annual Festival season runs from April to November, during which productions originated at Chichester reach an audience of over 230,000. Year-round programming continues through the winter with the Theatre presenting high-class touring productions. Instead of a pantomime, a traditional Christmas show is mounted by the renowned Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.

Rooted firmly in its community, the Theatre runs a Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) programme that is a beacon of excellence and inspiration to its local audience, as well as being home to one of the country’s largest youth theatres with over 750 members.

If you want to know more about who we are and what we do today, follow the links in the About Us menu to our story, our values and jobs at CFT.

Chairman: Sir William Castell
Artistic Director: Daniel Evans
Executive Director: Kathy Bourne