Schools & education groups
About our events
Your school visit to CFT
Call our team on 01243 812909 or email schools@cft.org.uk to secure your seats and discuss any access needs.
Get your groups pack - full of all the essential info, including directions to CFT and coach arrivals and pick-ups - click here to download our schools pack.
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 2025
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.
Dear England
20 - 29 November
The National Theatre's Olivier Award-winning smash hit comes to Chichester in a highly anticipated tour.From multi award-winning writer James Graham and director Rupert Goold, this five-star ‘new stage epic’ (Telegraph) tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager, in a 'gripping' (The Times) examination of nation and game.
It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. The England men’s team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.
A co-production with JAS Theatricals.
Find out more about the production on our Dear England show page.
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Free National Theatre Schools Programme
A free, creative learning offer for Key Stage 3 & 4 students delivered as part of the NT’s UK-wide tour of James Graham’s Dear England.
- Support to bring students to see James Graham’s sell out show, Dear England, at Chichester Festival Theatre between 20-29 November 2025
- A free teacher-led assembly supported by specially commissioned audio and spoken word pieces
- Free facilitated workshops and assemblies, delivered by National Theatre artists in selected schools
- up to two workshops per school for groups of up to 30 Key Stage 3 or 4 students in any of the below subject areas), on consecutive dates between 1-5 December 2025
- A provocation to write a letter to the future which may be incorporated into the final time capsule
- An invitation to submit a contribution for consideration in a national audio time capsule – capturing students’ hopes, dreams, and visions for 2105 to be showcased on the National Theatre website
Curriculum links
This cross-curricular programme supports:
● History: Legacy of World War II, VE Day and Remembrance Day, social change, nationality, social and economic British history
● English: Spoken word, reflective writing, oracy, playwriting
● PSHE/Citizenship: Identity, aspiration, community, nationality, shared endeavour
● Drama: Performance, devising, playwriting,
● PE: Community, collaboration, teamwork
To book workshops, please contact schools@cft.org.uk
The Next Morning | KS3 & 4
The Next Morning looks back to the hopes that young people had for themselves and their country in 1945, and the schools’ engagement programme will look forwards, asking young people now about their hopes for themselves and their country. Across these twinned halves, the project will animate and connect the stories and voices of young people from 1945 and young people from 2025.
This is a unique opportunity to centre young people’s voices in a nationwide project, placing their hopes in dialogue with the past and the future.
Creative Industries Career Day | For Yr 9+
Save the Date | 3 February 2026
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.
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What can I expect?
We're busy putting this year's schedule together but last year we enjoyed an Keynote from Simon Bucknall - an inspirational speaker and public speaking coach who delivered a TED-style talk offering tips for managing nerves, projecting confidence and the art of communication. Plus panel discussions included a Making Theatres (industry experts who discussed the creation process of a show from page to stage, covering creative and practical roles), Technical Theatre and apprenticeships and Recruitment and roles (an indispensable guide to interview techniques, pitfalls, exploring transferrable skills and how to get ahead in the creative industries).
Free to attend - booking essential
We recommend a minimum three-hour visit, either for the morning or afternoon session. Keynote presentations and discussions will take place between 11.45 – 1.15pm, at the beginning or end of your visit.
If you’re interested in attending with a school group, please advise us of your subject lead, year group, number of attendees and focus of visit, and we can curate a bespoke itinerary.
Want to know more?
Register your interest by emailing schools@cft.org.uk. More news to come asap.
The BFG
9 Mar - 11 Apr 2026 | Booking opens in September
This magical new adaptation will open the Festival 2026 season at Chichester Festival Theatre, running from 9 March – 11 April 2026.
One extraordinary night, a young orphan named Sophie is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country. There she learns that human-eating giants are guzzling ‘norphans’ the world over. But she soon discovers that her new friend, the BFG, is different – he’s a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching gentle soul who refuses to eat humans.
While other giants terrorise the world, the BFG ignites Sophie’s imagination, and they devise a daring plan to save children everywhere. In the end, the smallest human bean and the gentlest giant prove that a dream can change the world.
Chichester Festival Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Roald Dahl Story Company present the world premiere of Roald Dahl's The BFG, adapted by Tom Wells, directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director (and former CFT Artistic Director)Daniel Evans, whose Chichester productions included Quiz, South Pacific and Our Generation.
Ages 8+
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Schools friendly performances
We think the following performances will be the most popular.
- Thu 19 Mar, 1pm
- Tue 24 Mar, 10.30am
- Thu 26 Mar, 1pm
Get planning now!
Schools Theatre Day
Tuesday 24 March, 1.30pm - 2.30pm
Bring your students to CFT to our School’s Theatre Day on 24 March from at 1.30pm – 2.30pm, for an incredible opportunity to learn more about this gloriumptious production. After the performance has finished there will be time for a lunch break before the Theatre Day starts. You’ll explore the set, hear from creatives and possibly cast members and get unrivalled access into the production.
Tickets are just £15 per pupil and includes a theatre ticket to the schools performance at 10.30am on the same day.
To enquire or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Visual Stories
A guide to our theatres so you can plan in advance. If you feel a visual story for Hamlet and Lord of the Flies 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 soon.
Christmas shows are already on sale and The BFG will go on sale to schools on 11 September.
To enquire, pre-order or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Related items
Other productions in Festival 2025
Please check show page for age guide.
List of Events
Creative Industries Careers Day 2026
3 February, 9am - 5pm
