Skip to main content

Chichester Festival Theatre

  • What's on
  • My Account
  • Basket
  • Search
  • Menu

Site Menu.

Chichester Festival Theatre

  • Login
  • Basket
    • What's on
    • Your visit
    • Get closer
    • Young people
    • Families
    • Accessibility
    • About us
    • Support us
Return to main

Loading...

Shadowlands | West End

By William Nicholson

From 5 Feb 2026

About Shadowlands | West End

We're delighted to announce the West End transfer of our acclaimed 2019 Festival season production of Shadowlands. 

BAFTA, Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor Hugh Bonneville reprises his role as C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) whose orderly academic life as an Oxford don is upended by the arrival of the spirited American poet, Joy Davidman. What begins as a meeting of minds becomes an uplifting and powerful journey of love and the fragile beauty of life. 

Based on the real events of Lewis's life, Shadowlands is written by William Nicholson and was adapted from his own BAFTA Award-winning TV movie. It soon became a West End smash-hit winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, followed by a triumphant Broadway transfer. In 1993 the play was adapted into a major feature film directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, which subsequently won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. 

Rachel Kavanaugh directs this long overdue West End transfer which will play a strictly limited engagement at London’s Aldwych Theatre from 5 February - 9 May 2026.

5 Stars

A theatrical triumph

The i newspaper

4 Stars

Tremendous. Bonneville dazzles as C.S. Lewis in this divine revival

Guardian

Shadowlands is one of the latest CFT productions to transfer to the West End. See them here first - sign up to our mailing list or become a member to be the first to hear about the productions in our Festival and Winter seasons.

Venue

Aldwych Theatre, London

You may also like ...

  1. A middle-aged man with short, grey hair sits in front of a dressing table, looking into a mirror surrounded by lights. He is photographed from behind, revealing his reflection. He has an intense stare and a frown. He wears a blue pin -stripe suit jacket, white shirt and red patterned tie and holds a folded newspaper. The dressing table is cluttered with an array of objects, including a nearly-empty wine glass, skull, make-up, pills and toiletries.
    Festival Theatre

    Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts

    Tue 6 – Sat 10 Jan 2026
    More info about Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts Book now
  2. An older man with grey hair and exaggerated side burns stands proudly wearing ceremonial military full dress, including beige trousers and a red jacket with golden buttons, cuffs and epaulettes. He holds a glass of whiskey and looks straight down the camera with a knowing smile.
    Minerva Theatre

    Being Mr Wickham

    Tue 20 – Sat 24 Jan 2026
    More info about Being Mr Wickham Book now
  3. A giant, decorative, silver cigarette case floats against a black background. A young woman stands on top wearing a glamorous golden silk gown, holding a glass of champagne and looking to the camera with a smile. Her golden hair is curled and she wears red lipstick.
    Festival Theatre

    The Constant Wife

    Tue 20 – Sat 24 Jan 2026
    More info about The Constant Wife Book now
A stage for every story

Chichester Festival Theatre

Contact Details

Call: 01243 781312 Email: hello@cft.org.uk
Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester, PO19 6AP


  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

More Site Pages

    • Festival season
    • Booking info
    • Food and drink
    • Getting here
    • Accessibility
    • Seating plans
    • Technical info
    • What's on at The Nest
    • News and stories
    • Friends
    • Corporate
    • Legacies
    • Donate
    • Prologue
    • Prop hire
    • Jobs
    • Beyond Chichester
    • Press
    • Contact us
    • Our people
    • Our story
    • Chichester Chamber Concerts

Legal Pages

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy and preferences
  • Site map
  • Visiting companies
  • Trustee's charter

Site sponsors and affiliates

  • Arts Council EnglandTheatre Green Book
  • Chichester District Council
  • Theatre Green Book

Small Print

©2025 Chichester Festival Theatre. Chichester Festival Theatre is a registered charity. Charity no. 1088552. Chichester Festival Theatre is a company limited by guarantee. Company no. 4210225. Website by Supercool.