What's on
About our events
Welcome to Festival 2025 - featuring world premieres and modern masterpieces, plus two must-see shows for you and your students. School group booking is now open - reserve your tickets now with no deposit required.
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 queueing
Home Educators or Education Groups, 10+ Mon - Fri
Flat rate £10 per ticket
Four week reservation period
Pre-book your icre cream and save queuing
Questions? Contact our team on schools@cft.org.uk or 01243 812909.
That Pesky Rat
A funny, touching tale about how a pesky street rat finds “home sweet home”. Longing to become someone’s pet, rat considers his friend’s homes, but none are quite the right fit. All rat really wants is a kindly owner, a name, and no baths... He’s even willing to wear a jumper – at a push!
Based on the award-winning picture book written and illustrated by former Children's Laureate, Lauren Child, this much-loved story will be reimagined for the stage by a brand-new company made of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s (CFYT) alumni – and will form part of the CFYT at 40 celebrations.
This new show will launch in The Nest prior to a tour of local schools and libraries.
More info
About the book
That Pesky Rat gently explores themes of homelessness and belonging and encourages young children to empathise with others. Editions of this book, published by Hachette Children’s Books, have supported the work of the homeless charity St Mungo’s for over 20 years and highlighted the plight of street children worldwide through Lauren Child's work as a Unesco Artist for Peace.
Library Tour
We're delighted that this new show will go on a tour of local libraries:
- Littlehampton
- Rustington
- Midhurst
- Chichester
- Hurstpierpoint
- Bognor Regis
- Crawley)
More info coming soon.
Primary Schools Tour
We're delighted that this new show will go on a tour of local primary schools supported by CultureSpark.
For more information, please contact schools@cft.org.uk and we will put you in contact with CultureSpark.
SEN Schools Tour
We're delighted that this new show will go on a tour of local SEN schools.
For more information, please contact schools@cft.org.uk
Hamlet
6 September - 4 October | Minerva Theatre
For the first time ever, Shakespeare's supreme tragedy will be staged at CFT in our 300-seat studio space, the Minerva Theatre. It's a chance for English and Drama students at KS3 and above to get up close and personal with The Dane, played in this production by Giles Terera (of Hamilton fame, Blues for Alabama Sky and Othello at the National Theatre).
We’re putting on two exclusive Schools performances on 17 September at 6pm and 24 September at 2.15pm. You won’t find these dates on our website as they’re not available for the public to book, but due to the limited capacity we’re expecting tickets will go quickly.
Find out more about the production on our Hamlet show page.
Get more from your visit
Exclusive Schools Performances
Join us on 17 September at 6pm or 24 September at 2.15pm for an exclusive schools performance. You won’t find these dates on our website as they’re not available for the public to book, but due to the limited capacity we’re expecting tickets will go quickly.
To enquire or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Hamlet School's Theatre Day
Wednesday 24 September, 10.30am - 12noon
Add to your theatre experience with exclusive access at our dynamic School’s Theatre Day, here at CFT. Available for a maximum of 5 schools.
Tickets are just £15 per pupil and includes a theatre ticket to the matinee at 2.15pm on the same day.
To enquire or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Hamlet Insight Workshops
Flexible dates (arranged between your school and CFT)
Enhance KS4 and KS5 learning with our dynamic 2-hour workshops led by CFT's Creative Associate Sophie Hobson (former Learning Manager at the Royal Shakespeare Company). Students will bring Hamlet to life through interactive, rehearsal-style exploration - interrogating language, form, structure and character relationships.
These workshops will enable students studying the play at A Level English or in Drama:
- to have an insight into the rehearsal room
- to connect with Hamlet in a physical way
- to explore different interpretations of the play
- to gain a deeper understanding of text in performance
- to give deeper insight when approaching exams
Price £150 for a maximum of 30 pupils.
To enquire or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Education Pack
Here's a taster of what our Education Pack will contain for KS3 and KS4.
We're working on this resource and will add it here as soon as possible. All schools booked will be emailed this free of charge.
Free Talks
Free pre-show talk on Monday 15 September at 5.30pm (booking essential) and post show on Wednesday 1 October.
Lord of the Flies
19 September - 11 October | Festival Theatre
Our 1300-seat Festival Theatre promises maximum theatricality, productions packed with large casts and striking design. And you can expect more of the same in William Golding’s modern classic. This epic production will be a fantastic opportunity for GCSE English and Drama students to experience the novel coming from page to stage, unlocking the text in new ways.
Best availability evening performances.
Find out more about the production on our Lord of the Fliesshow page.
Get more from your visit
Lord of the Flies School's Theatre Day- LIMITED
Wednesday 1 October, 10.30am - 12noon - SOLD OUT
Tuesday 7 October, 10.30am - 12noon - Limited availability
Bring your students to CFT to our School’s Theatre Day on 1 October at 10.30am – 12noon, for an incredible opportunity to get under the skin of this compelling play. You’ll explore the set, hear from creatives and possibly cast members and get unrivalled access into the inner workings of the production.
Tickets are just £15 per pupil and includes a theatre ticket to the matinee at 2.30pm on the same day.
To enquire or book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Education Pack
Here's a taster of what our Education Pack will contain for KS3+.
We're working on this resource and will add it here as soon as possible. All schools booked will be emailed this free of charge.
Free Talks
Free pre-show talk on Wednesday 24 September at 5.30pm (booking essential) and post show on Friday 3 October.
Dear England
20 - 29 November | On sale from 7 July
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.
- 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
- A provocation to write a letter to the future which may be incorporated into the final time capsule
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
Performing Poetry – Power & Conflict
26 September
A brand-new schools event celebrating poetry.
In this one-off event, your students will experience GCSE anthology poems - spoken and performed aloud - by cast and creatives from CFT's Festival 2025 season as well as members of the student audience.
By offering a closer insight through live performance, we aim to inspire and challenge their responses to the poems, build comprehension and cultural capital whilst enriching their personal and academic development.
Programme
Anthologies
This event will explore 'Power & Conflict’ with poems from exam board anthologies (including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, CCEA, Eduqas) including:
- Exposure by Wilfred Owen (1893 – 1918)
- The Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809 – 1892)
- War Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy (b. 1955)
- Poppies by Jane Weir (b. 1963)
- My Last Duchess by Robert Browning (1812 – 1889)
- The Emigree by Carol Rumens(b. 1944)
- Extract from The Prelude by William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850)
- London by William Blake (1757 – 1827)
- Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 – 1822)
- Kamikaze by Beatrice Garland (b. 1938)
- Remains by Simon Armitage (b. 1963)
- Tissue by Imtiaz Dharker (b. 1954)
- Checking Out Me History by John Agard (b.1949)
Booking
£150 per school.
For more information or to book, email schools@cft.org.uk
Creative Industries Career Day
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.
Get more from your visit
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.
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).
Want to know more?
Register your interest by emailing schools@cft.org.uk. More news to come asap.
Visual Stories
A guide to our theatres so you can plan in advance.
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
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 groups 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!
Other productions in Festival 2025
Please check show page for age guide.
All events
- Festival Theatre
Performing Poetry – Power & Conflict
