Over 400 pages of research by 12 volunteers, two Chichester University students, former and current staff and audiences plus deep dives into the West Sussex County Council Records Office and Archives, interviews with actors, directors and designers including Sir Tony Robinson, Kate Mosse, Paul Farnsworth and Alan Finch. Mix it all together, simmer and stew, and voila! New Ventures, Chichester Festival Theatre’s new touring exhibition exploring temporary theatre spaces.

Explore the original New Ventures in the 1970s and The Tent in the 1980s; CFT’s 50th anniversary pop-up Theatre on the Fly (built with and by volunteers) and the unforgettable Theatre in the Park, which continued to welcome audiences even when the Theatre underwent a £22 million redevelopment project; plus 2019’s Spiegeltent. This exhibition uncovers the risks and rewards of CFT’s experimental theatre spaces, which sparked its newest theatre venue, The Nest. 

Don’t miss it! 

Available to visit free in the Festival Theatre foyer until 16 August, New Ventures will then go on a regional tour to Chichester Cathedral (19 Aug – 7 Sept), Oxmarket Gallery (30 Sept – 12 Oct), The Spring, Havant (14 Oct – 1 Nov) and Portsmouth Guildhall (4 – 23 Nov).

With thanks

The New Ventures Exhibition is made possible using money raised by National Lottery players. The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.

New Ventures Exhibition is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, and the help of a super team of volunteers: Phil Ayling, Gilli Bush-Bailey, Chiara Bradfield, Andy Earwaker, Rachel Green, Kay Gilmore, Bob Harvey, Martin Reynolds, Mary Tennant, Andrew Vance and Stavroula Varella for their amazing research.

CFT’s Volunteering Programme is kindly supported by Prof. E. F. Juniper and Mrs Jilly Styles.

With thanks also to work experience students, Josh Brooke and Pidge Thorner, who joined us from the University of Chichester.