We promise you a real night to remember. Pull out your glad rags and dress to impress (check out last year’s glamorous outfits below). You’ll sweep up the red carpet and be greeted with a glass of fizz. Pause to enjoy the live music and snap a selfie with your friends and family before enjoying the performance.

CFT Summer Gala Oliver

Chichester Festival Theatre

But Leamas has committed a cardinal error: he’s fallen in love. After a lifetime of deception and betrayal, can there be room for humanity in the ruthlessly manipulative world of international espionage?

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Consider yourself one of the CFT family with this Oliver! themed musical theatre workshop led by our finest practitioners. Spend the morning exploring some well-known songs and scenes from this fantastic musical. You might even want to pop into the Festival Theatre and watch a performance afterwards!

An Introduction to Musical Theatre - Oliver Style

White Meadows Primary Academy

Reach your theatre-making potential as you learn the skills to devise a short piece of theatre. Throughout this workshop you will explore the different ways to create theatre using a song, or an artwork as the starting point. Develop the structure, create your characters and storyline all in an afternoon.

An Introduction to Devising Theatre (Littlehampton) 10 - 15 yrs

Ever wondered if you could bring an object to life? After spending the morning with our professional puppeteers, you’ll have learnt the secret to breathing life into any object you wish. Techniques such as how to move your body in sync with the puppet you’re working with, breath work, and discovering the personality behind the puppet. So much fun!

An Introduction to Puppetry (Littlehampton) 7 to 10 yrs

An Introduction to Puppetry (Littlehampton) 10 to 15 yrs

Turn a well-known story book into an exciting, new piece of theatre. Unlock your creativity and imagination and spend the morning learning how to be an expert in storytelling. Explore characters, storyline and narration to bring a book to life as a team.

An Introduction to Storytelling (Littlehampton) 7 - 10 yrs

Join the wonderful Luke Brown for a fun and athletic introduction to contemporary dance. You will focus on using a range of dynamics, such as power, attack and fluidity, whilst working on rhythm and choreography. This afternoon will provide an excellent introduction to contemporary dance training.

An Introduction to Contemporary Dance (Littlehampton) 14 to 20 yrs

Discover your creative spark in this afternoon of high energy improvisation exercises and games. Learn the physical and verbal techniques to make a performance on the spot, and after this workshop you’ll be equipped with all the knowledge you need to be a pro at improv!

An Introduction to Improvisation Littlehampton 10 - 15 yrs

Dance like no one is watching in our silent disco, unravel the secrets of our heritage treasure trail and ignite your creativity. With local live music, cracking comedy, independent local stalls plus delicious street food. Mark the date in your diary now so you don't miss our day of entertainment and community spirit!

Knees-Up

Celebrating all things Food Glorious Food join us for a scrummy foodie Make & Take Workshop for children of all ages and parents.

Make & Take Workshop

Clement Attlee may be an unlikely prime minister and his cabinet of competing heavyweights – from the loyal Ernest Bevin to scheming Herbert Morrison – argue furiously about how to realise their manifesto: to make a welfare state, build millions of homes, reorganise dilapidated schools, and most dramatically, create a National Health Service that is free at the point of need.

The Promise

Tom Carradine will get you and your little ones Doing the Lambeth Walk, pondering How Much is That Doggy in the Window, marching with inflatable bananas “down The Strand” and much more!

Baby Knees-up

Matthew Bourne is internationally renowned for reinventing classics including Swan Lake and Edward Scissorhands for his company New Adventures, as well as his Olivier Award-winning choreography for My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins (which he co-directed and also earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography) and his recent acclaimed direction and musical staging of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. The stellar creative team includes designer Lez Brotherston (Fiddler onthe Roof, Me and My Girl, Flowers for Mrs Harris).

Oliver

An Introduction to Musical Theatre - Oliver! Style (Chichester) 7 to 10 yrs

Theatre-mad Bobby Child is torn between his show-business dreams and running the family bank. He reluctantly heads west to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a theatre’s mortgage, only to fall for the theatre owner’s daughter, Polly. Desperate to prove his good faith, Bobby decides to put on a show – complete with dancers from the glamorous Zangler Follies in New York City – to save the theatre, renew the town and hopefully win Polly’s love.

Crazy for You

It’s fresh, it’s fun and it’s a little bit different. From cabaret to comedy, drag to music, our late night series is in the Minerva Bar is fast becoming the place to be. And why not sweeten the deal with our signature £6 cocktails and prosecco, exclusive to CFT Lates.

CFT Lates: Slay and Play

The Caretaker

At Gloucester Cathedral, Alexander Ashbrook, heir to an aristocratic estate, has his heart set on becoming a composer; but his stern father refuses to listen and despite his love for the beautiful Melissa, flight seems his only option. Far darker conflicts are at play for Meshak, son of the brutal Otis Gardiner who preys on young unmarried mothers – promising to deliver their babies to Coram’s new Foundling Hospital but instead meting out a terrible fate.

Coram Boy

Festival Theatre

It’s Julie’s 18th birthday, and she’s throwing a party in her father’s extravagant townhouse. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and her long-suffering best friend Christine is trying to pick up the pieces. As the revellers pile into the booze, down in the kitchen Christine and her boyfriend Jon – son of Julie’s cleaner – clear up and dare to dream of the future.

The House Party

With a huge cast of characters from the formidable snake Kaa and laughing jackal Tabaqui, to Ikki the gossiping porcupine and Mao the strutting peacock, this beloved tale is a coming of age story about the desire for freedom that beats in the heart of every child.

The Jungle Book

Meet Roxy the Raccoon, Carlos the Chameleon and their colourful animal friends as they discover more about themselves in this imaginative show, full of silliness and fun for 4 – 7 year olds.

Truth & Tails: Library Tour

Crawley Library

Adrienne Kennedy’s autobiographical play – told in the form of a one-act, near-monologue to her son Adam – is a mesmerising and disquieting tale of a young playwright trying to make her name in a new world.

Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a member at CFYT, this is your chance to find out. Join us for a morning of practical acting skills with group games, exercises and a whole lot of fun. Meet some of the staff, make friends and discover skills you didn’t know you had.

An Introduction to Youth Theatre (Littlehampton) 7 - 10 yrs

Our favourite family-friendly comedy club is back and they're doing what they do best: getting the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families… but without the rude bits! It’s just like a normal comedy club, but it’s on in the daytime, kids are allowed in, and there is a higher than usual chance of the entire audience claiming to be called Bob.

 Comedy Club 4 Kids

The Touch Tour takes place 90 minutes before an audio described performance and lasts approximately 30 minutes. We also offer customers the chance to explore the theatres, although some backstage areas are inaccessible due to the nature of the buildings.

Touch Tour: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Only one man can defend the two icons of the 60s revolution: Michael Havers, leading QC and future attorney general. But the furore also brings into the spotlight his own relationship with his son, aspiring teenage actor Nigel Havers, who’s been drawn into Marianne’s orbit...

Redlands

As midnight strikes, a storm rages over the wilds of Bodmin Moor. The surviving descendants of the long-deceased Cyrus West have gathered in his remote mansion to discover which of them is the chosen heir to his fortune. As the wind rattles the house, so does news that the most dangerous inmate from the nearby asylum is on the run. Menace lurks around every corner and nothing is what it seems…

The Cat and the Canary

Ensemble 360

The Assembly Room

Join Dancer and Tutor Rachel Hogarth in this 90-minute workshop exploring the basics of Tap Dancing. By the end of the workshop, Rachel will have you tapping along to a well-known song with your newly learnt steps!

Drop-In Workshop: Introduction to Tap Dancing

Trio Gaspard

 Geneva Lewis and Llŷr Williams

Tree is rescued from the forest on Christmas Eve by Mavis, the motorbiking park ranger, who lives with her cheeky cat Winston and 9-year-old Yulia, who doesn’t want to talk and is a long way from home.

Hey! Christmas Tree

Our programme of drop-in sessions take place monthly at the theatre, and offer a chance to dip your toes in the waters of a different creative art form each time. Come every month or as and when you can make it, each session is stand alone and low commitment.

Drop-In Workshop: Character Development

Join community dance artist and yoga teacher Charlotte Jones in this 90-minute workshop and explore the calming and relaxing effects of gentle physical movement and yoga. Come ready to unwind and connect with your inner peace in this peaceful practical workshop. Comfortable clothing advised, if you have a yoga mat and are able to bring it with you this is recommended.

Drop-In Workshop: Movement and Mindfulness

Transport yourself into a spellbinding new retelling of this classic folk tale, full of wonder and delight. Meet a wicked stepfamily, a handsome prince in search of a wife and a missing slipper… But wait: there are also three magical dresses, a wish-giving tree, and help for Cinderella from a very unexpected source.

Chichester Festival Theatre

Aug 23 - Sep 21, 2024

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

20 - 21 Sep, 2024

Touch Tour: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Sep 20 - Oct 18, 2024

Redlands

Sep 27 - Oct 26, 2024

The Cat and the Canary

Oct 3, 2024

Ensemble 360

Sep 6, 2024

CFT Summer Gala Oliver

Aug 23 - Sep 21, 2024

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Chichester Festival Theatre