1977: Headline Names

The 1977 production of The Apple Cart stands out as a high point in the Theatre’s history. It starred Penelope Keith, who was widely recognised as Margo in the BBC sitcom The Good Life. Famously she met her future husband, a policeman, backstage during the royal gala performance of this production. During Artistic Director Keith Michell's four year tenure, many household names trod the CFT boards including Hollywood star Ingrid Bergman, Patricia Routledge, Barbara Windsor, Donald Sinden and Rex Harrison. Explore the 1977 season below, and beyond...

Olivier's [years] gave us glamour and excitement and a buzz, and the Clements years gave us very good revivals of central classics, I'm not sure how I could define the Keith Michell years other than the stars... That was one thing he excelled in.

Michael Billington


Souvenir programme for the 1977 season

Souvenir programmes were produced at the end of every season up to 1995, when individual production programmes were introduced consistently


Season poster 1977
Newspaper Cutting Ingrid Bergman in Waters Of The Moon, Chichester Observer 22 Apr 1977