Brian Butler previews the 2019/20 winter season at Chichester Festival Theatre and finds lots of delights to look forward to.
TRADITIONALLY the winter season at Chichester sees its two theatres plays host to a wide range of touring shows which might not otherwise be available to south coast audiences. And the package artistic director Daniel Evans has just announced will certainly not disappoint.
Dance, drama, music and comedy all feature . The musical sensation Six, an up to date depiction of the six wives of Henry VIII in rock style will share the season with Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls the Musical.
The highly innovative company Told By An Idiot make their Chichester debut with a new show about Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, while the Olivier award-winning A Monster Calls kicks off a national tour at Chichester.
The Radio 4 cult panel game I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue will get an airing as will the Bluejays, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Moscow City Ballet.
For families, there’s a staging of the Gruffalo and the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will present the musical The Wizard of Oz.
Robert Lindsay and Tara Fitzgerald will follow up their sell-out run at London’s Hampstead Theatre with Prism – a Terry Johnson drama about the true life story a man who spent his life making Hollywood’s divas look beautiful.
The Lonely Bones, adapted from Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel is a tale of love and loss and promises a large cast, stunning staging and a spell-binding soundtrack.
At Christmas, the Band of the Royal Marines will join forces with Chichester Cathedral Choir to get everyone in the festive mood.
Daphne Du Maurier’s menacing psychological thriller My Cousin Rachel will star BBC TV’s Call The Midwife’s Helen George.
Issy Van Randwyck recreates the diva magic of Billie Holliday, Marilyn Monroe, Patsy Cline and many more in her one-woman show.
And 5 jugglers and 4 contemporary dancers will push the boundaries with Gandini Juggling’s show Spring.
Tribute shows to Noel Coward, Gilbert and Sullivan and William Shakespeare also feature.
Online public bookings for the season open on September 14.
Telephone and in person bookings open on September 17.
For full ticket and performance information, click here: