Inside the rehearsal room for Anna Karenina plus rave reviews for Festival 2025

News 22 May 2025

News Story

Festival 2025 has officially arrived, and we hope it was well worth the wait. Critics have hailed our opening show, The Government Inspector, as 'a winning start to the 2025 season' (Portsmouth News). Hot on its heels, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry  has been called 'a pitch-perfect musical' (The Times). 

Anna Karenina rehearsals are well underway and we're so excited to go behind the scenes to give audiences a sense of the epic production we have in store. 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

From the intimate setting of the Minerva Theatre, audiences of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry embark on an epic adventure across Britain, guided by a cast of exceptional singers, dancers, and storytellers.

Following press night, the reviews are pouring in and it's been called 'one of the most beautiful, the most powerful and the most poignant evenings the Minerva has ever seen' (Chichester Observer).

A man is stood upright in the centre of the stage looking off into the distance with a slightly concerned look on his face. Beside him is a shaggy dog puppet being operated by a puppeteer. Further back, there are several people whose faces are illuminated by the light from their mobile phones. There is also young man who is standing casually in a classic-red telephone box. The backdrop is filled with twinkling lights on a deep blue background, reminiscent of a night sky filled with shining stars.
Mark Addy and company in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Chichester Festival Theatre
Six dancers are all wearing white t-shirts under sparkling indigo dungarees or pinafores. The two in the front are squatting and have their arms lifted above their heads, while the other four are stood up straight behind them. The standing dancers are holding aloft cheerleader pom-poms. In the centre of this group, a young woman is posing confidently with her arms extended upwards. She is wearing a shimmering wrap dress in a matching colour to the dancers’ costumes with grungy fishnet tights and black combat boots.
Sharon Rose (as Garage Girl) and company in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Chichester Festival Theatre

You can find the full round up of reviews here.

Anna Karenina

Come into the Anna Karenina rehearsal room with our brand new behind the scenes videos.  This show is going to take audiences into the shadowy and sensual world of a heart racing love affair. Think scandal, passion and betrayal, complete with lavish costumes and a decadent set. 

See what the cast have to say about this unmissable theatrical experience. 

Catch them in action in the new rehearsal photos, with the full gallery available over on the show page. 

A man with white hair and a beard is reading a notebook which he is holding. He is wearing glasses and a white shirt with various colourful portraits. Next to him, there is a woman with blonde hair talking to him. She is wearing a black blouse with white detailing and a black skirt. She is holding a script with a lot of text highlighted in one hand and a pen in the other. In the background, there is a woman wearing a black top and long red skirt looking at them with one hand on her hip and the other resting on her chin, as if in thought.
Phillip Breen and Natalie Dormer in rehearsals for CFT’s Anna Karenina

Marie and Rosetta

Marie and Rosetta opened last week at Rose Theatre in Kingston to glowing reviews, and we just can't wait to have it here in Chichester from 25 June - 26 July. 'Beverley Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu are powerhouse performers' (Theatre and Tonic) in this unforgettable true story. 'Soul-stirring, celebratory and foot-tappingly uplifting' (The Spy In The Stalls).

Tickets are extremely limited but do keep an eye out for returns.

Beverley Knight (Rosetta Tharpe) and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (Marie Knight) in Marie and Rosetta
Beverley Knight (Rosetta Tharpe) and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (Marie Knight) in Marie and Rosetta

If you've missed out on tickets, check our website from 1pm for any returns for that evening's performance.

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