Behind the scenes - Festival 2024 | Chichester Festival Theatre

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Whenever we can we love to share with you what happens here at CFT. This year we're capturing a few more of the things that take place behind the scenes. So have a scroll through the galleries for each of our productions below, and enjoy this taste of Festival 2024 off stage.

Redlands

Photos by Tim Hills

An actor is standing on the stage playing electric guitar in a relaxed position. Behind them, a drum kit that reads ‘The Rolling Stones’ and an amplifier in front of a curtain. They are wearing an eclectic mix of clothes, a white tank top and long skirt on top of trousers.

Two actors backstage in a busy corridor of costume rails. The actor in the front of the image carries a white mug in one hand and his coat in the other. He is wearing a striking blue jumper. The actor behind him smiles into a nearby door. He is wearing a white tank top.

An actor gets ready in the dressing room chair while someone does their hair. Surrounded by various dressing room items, they smile into the mirror. The actor wears a dressing gown and the wig technician wears dark clothes with a tool kit on their hip.

A woman getting ready in the dressing room smiles into the mirror. She is wearing a floral blue dressing gown and half of her hair is up in pin curls. Behind her another woman, dressed in black clothes, is doing the actor’s hair.

An actor sits in a chair and looks into the dressing room mirror with a neutral expression. The room is lined with mirrors, surrounded by dressing room light bulbs. He wears a relaxed jumper. Behind him, another man is just in shot and looks as if he is talking to the seated actor.

Actors warm up on the stage, they are all in motion and holding various poses. The stage is arranged in many hexagonal layers, carpeted in red, orange and yellow. The actors are wearing relaxed clothing. At the front of the image is a woman, wearing a large shirt, swaying as both her arms cross over one another.

An actor sits alone, looking reflective as he takes a quiet moment. He holds a piece of material in his hands as he looks down at it. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and trousers.

A man and woman stand together, embracing each other in a hug. They are in the auditorium, behind them are ranks of blue seats. The woman is smiling with her eyes closed.

An actor stands in the dressing room, looking at himself in the mirror. He has a serious, contemplative expression. The mirror is surrounded by dressing room light bulbs. There is a stylish design sketch picture stuck to the mirror. The actor wears a white tank top.

Two people talk, smiling at each other in a pleasant exchange. The person on the left wears a checkered shirt and clasps their hands together. The person on the right wears a bright blue jumper.

A man walks down a backstage corridor. The exposed-brick corridor is lined with pictures of actors on stage. He carries a bottle of water in his hand, his back is turned to the camera.

An actor looks in the mirror, smiling as a microphone is fixed to his ear. The man wears a white t-shirt and sits in a chair. Above him, a woman wearing black is touching his ear. Around the mirror are dressing room light bulbs. Many cards have been stuck to the mirror.

Actors stand on the stage facing towards a woman in the auditorium. The stage is arranged in many hexagonal layers, carpeted in red, orange and yellow. The actors are wearing relaxed clothing. There are a few other people scattered around the auditorium.

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Photos by Tim Hills

A man and a woman wearing dark rehearsal clothes stand on stage looking at each other. The man has his arms crossed and the woman has her hands on her hips. She looks at him with a suspicious expression. Behind them are ranks of chairs.

A man wearing a blue and white stripped shirt looks in the mirror as he ties his tie. He has a concentrated expression. The mirror is lit by dressing room-style light bulbs.

Three actors are talking casually in the dressing room. Two of the actors are seated, looking towards the third actor whose back is to the door. Behind them is a rail of costumes. They all wear smart shirts.

Two actors stand in a dressing room, looking together at a small box. They both have their hair in curls, prepared for the show. The dressing room is lined with mirrors and dressing room-style light bulbs.

An actor sits in a dressing room while a woman adjusts his wig. He wears a hairdressing cape and smiles into the mirror in front of him. Several fans are dotted around the room.

Two actors warm up on stage, smiling as they stretch. The woman on the left has her hair in pin curls and wears a navy top with white and red stripped trousers. The man on the right, who wears a blue shirt and chinos, stretches one leg behind him. In the background we can see ranks of green chairs.

A man in a white tank top brushes his teeth in a busy dressing room. Around him, other actors are getting dressed.

The Caretaker

Photos by Tim Hills

An elderly actor is photographed from behind sitting in front of a dressing room mirror, so his reflection can be seen. He is looking at his reflection with a serious, pensive expression. Behind him, a lady dressed in black with dark hair and red lipstick is carefully spreading black make up over his face. His face, head, neck and costume are smeared with it, so he looks dirty and tired. Various cosmetics can be seen on the dressing room underneath the mirror, with wigs and storage boxes in the background around the room.

A black and white photo of a performer sitting in his dressing room, leaning one hand on the dressing table on the right and the other on the chair he is sitting on. He looks off to the side with an amused expression. He is wearing pin striped trousers, a white shirt, braces and a tie. His light hair is pushed back off his face. There are a variety of items spread across the dressing table on the right and mirrors surrounded by lights above it.

Two members of the crew dressed in black are on stage, dressed with the set for The Caretaker. One of them stands centre stage, reading from a clipboard, and the other bends down, opening a suitcase and looking down at it. They are both concentrating. The floor is covered with distressed, dark wooden floor boards. The walls and slanting ceiling are covered with peeling wallpaper and there are distressed wooden panels on each side. There is a cream door on the right hand side and a window in the centre, covered with a sagging piece of old sacking. The stage is covered with various junk and random objects, all from the 1950s, including rugs, suitcases, wooden boxes, tools and a white metal bed dressed with a red and cream stripey blanket and green satin quilt.

A black and white photo of a performer in his dressing room, taken from outside the door. He is looking behind him with an intense expression, putting something in his pocket. He is wearing grey trousers and a dark leather jacket.

Five wax buddha heads sit on a grey desk, with a white plug socket out of focus in the background. Two of the heads have rolled onto their sides and they have all been damaged slightly - chipped or slightly broken.

A member of the crew and a performer photographed side on in a hallway. The walls are white and a door is open to reveal part of a dressing room with a desk, mirrors and a red chair. The lady on the left is wearing a black shirt and talking. The man on the right is wearing grey trousers, a dark belt, a blue checked shirt and a dark leather jacket. His dark hair is slicked back and he is laughing. They are both looking off to the right as if talking to someone.

Coram Boy

Photos by Tim Hills

The House Party

Photos by Tim Hills

The Other Boleyn Girl

Photos by Tim Hills