Your school visit to CFT 

We've got great discounts for Schools and Education groups of 10+. Tickets for shows are usually £10 per child; one free teacher ticket (Monday - Friday on selected shows). We've highlighted our favourites below but do contact us if there's another event you have in mind. 

Download your free schools pack - full of all the essential info, including directions to CFT and coach arrivals and pick-ups.

On the day:

• Our friendly Front of House team will be on hand to help.
• We ask that phones are switched off before the show to avoid distracting the actors with the buzz of notifications or glowing of screens.
• There's usually an interval of 15-20 minutes, but you can check this along with the run time closer to the performance date.
• After the show, make sure your group sticks together as it can get really busy on site! Coach groups, check in with a member of security staff for your pickup time. 

Top tip: you can pre-order ice creams to save time on the day and make sure no one misses out on their favourite flavours!

Festival 2026 

School and College groups, 10+ Mon - Fri
£10 per ticket; one free teacher ticket with every nine paid
Four week reservation period
Pre-book your ice creams and save queuing

Home Educators or Education Groups, 10+ Mon - Fri
Flat rate £10 per ticket
Four week reservation period
Pre-book your ice cream and save queuing

Questions? Contact our team on schools@cft.org.uk or 01243 812909. 

Reserve your school group using our simple online form today. 

Atonement | KS5

29 May - 20 June | Festival Theatre 

Our 1300-seat Festival Theatre promises maximum theatricality, productions packed with large casts and striking design.

Atonement, Ian McEwan’s dazzling masterpiece stretches from the 1930s through the Second World War to the present day. Named as one of the 100 greatest novels of the past century, this world premiere stage adaptation is by Christopher Hampton and is directed by Adam Penford.

Find out more about the production on our show page.

A Midsummer Night's Dream | KS3+

18 September - 17 October | Festival Theatre 

Join us in the exuberant, enchanted world of Shakespeare’s magical comedy. Comedian and satirist Munya Chawawa makes his theatrical debut as Bottom and Justin Audibert, CFT Artistic Director, co-directs with Hannah Joss following his 2025 Hamlet in the Minerva Theatre.

‘I want to root it in Sussex – ‘a local habitation’, and to use the whole of the Festival Theatre in a way that feels immersive, all-encompassing and lots of fun!’
Justin Audibert

Find out more about the production on our show page.

Antigone Exits | KS4+

26 September - 17 October | Minerva Theatre

Twenty-five centuries after Antigone, seven performers gather to re-tell the tale of what is buried and what comes of it. Ancient Greece crashes into the contemporary, as Sophocles’ classic tragedy shines a scorching light onto our current world. 

Nina Segal’s modern adaptation brings Antigone blazing into the present day. Jeff James directs.

Find out more about the production on our show page.

Performing Poetry  | KS4

Power & Conflict | 2 October

A celebration of poetry, especially for schools.

Experience GCSE anthology poems, spoken and performed aloud by professional actors. In addition to the live performances, our guest examiner will offer critical insight to support student engagement, comprehension and cultural capital. 

£5 per pupil | Groups of 30+ £3 per pupil 

For more information or to book, email schools@cft.org.uk

Creative Industries Careers Day | For Yr 9+

26 January 2027

We're inviting the next generation of curious minds to another unmissable day of discovery in the creative industries. Dive into inspiring sessions with creative organisations large and small. Meet with artists, designers, theatre-makers, writers and creatives, and find out about careers that you didn’t even know existed.

Whether you're curious about theatre, visual arts, design, writing, music or beyond, this event is crafted to ignite your potential, spark ideas, and show you the endless possibilities ahead. If you’re a student choosing GCSE options, next step pathways, or you’re ready to survey the employment landscape, then this careers fair is for you.

Visual Stories

A guide to our theatres so you can plan in advance. If you feel a visual story would benefit your pupil/s please let us know at schools@cft.org.uk.

Planning ahead 

If you're already trying to get a head start on an end of year theatre trip, then take a look at what's coming up later in the year.

To enquire, pre-order or book, email schools@cft.org.uk

Other productions in Festival 2026

Please check show page for age guide.