Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
SOUTH PACIFIC
KATHY BOURNE AND DANIEL EVANS PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAMUS RYAN
WELCOME
A very warm welcome to South Pacific and the opening production of Festival 2021. It has been nine months since a company of actors gathered together to tell an audience a story in this theatre. It is with a deep sense of relief, gratitude and joy that we are able to do so today. We are so proud that the work of our dedicated theatre-makers – onstage and off – can finally be shared with our returning audiences as our Theatres come back to life. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific was originally scheduled for Festival 2020. As the conversation between members of the creative team and actors in this programme indicates, the events of the past 16 months have brought many of this classic musical’s themes into even more pertinent focus. It’s a joy that we’ve been able to retain so many of our outstanding cast members.
Among our wonderful creative team also making welcome returns are choreographer and movement director Ann Yee (Caroline, Or Change ), designer Peter McKintosh (Shadowlands, Guys and Dolls) and musical supervisor Nigel Lilley (Oklahoma! ). Looking ahead, Suhayla El-Bushra’s new adaptation of Andrea Levy’s great novel, The Long Song, follows South Pacific into the Festival Theatre; while Zoe Cooper’s new play The Flock joins Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane (in a co-production with the Lyric Hammersmith) and David Storey’s Home in the Minerva. All these plays – each with a director new to CFT at the helm – engage in varying ways with the differences that divide us: from racial prejudice to warring families, social mores and conflicting beliefs; and whether tolerance and understanding can bring us together. We are delighted to have you back with us, and hope you enjoy South Pacific.
Executive Director Kathy Bourne
cft.org.uk
Artistic Director Daniel Evans
LEAP
Our Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) programme is a beacon of excellence and inspiration to our local audience, providing
ACTORS & CREATIVES INSIGHT
A new pilot project from the LEAP team, Actors and Creatives Insight, is delivering creative learning experiences to students in local schools through interactive and lively workshops, giving them an insight into different areas of the arts. A public call-out to professionals from any discipline of the arts in the local area received an enthusiastic response from 20 talented artists. Between them, they will be leading over 100 workshops during the summer term at primary and secondary schools across the region, from Lancing to Hampshire. The project was the brainchild of actor Edward Bennett, who appeared at Chichester Festival Theatre as Benedick in Much Ado
About Nothing and Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost in 2016. Edward, who now lives near Chichester, is himself delivering a number of workshops, which respond to curriculum needs – from Shakespeare for English students to directing techniques. Other workshops on offer include technical, movement, mask, physical theatre and composing. The project has been enabled by the government’s Culture Recovery Fund grant, helping CFT transition back to full activity, employ freelance artists and maintain our commitment to the community. We intend to evaluate and develop the project for the future.
‘I could see the confidence in the pupils building throughout the session. They learnt vital teamwork skills and their wellbeing was significantly affected in a positive way’. Teacher, The Academy Selsey
‘I learnt how to apply knowledge and skills from theatre to multiple real-life scenarios and roles’. Year 10 student, Felpham Community College
COMMUNITY
opportunities for over 62,000 people throughout the year. We create and deliver practical workshops, projects and special events for everyone,
regardless of age, culture and social background, ensuring all are given an opportunity to be engaged and excited by the arts.
KEEPING YOUNG CARERS CONNECTED
Young Carers Connect is CFT’s major project to help reconnect young carers in West Sussex with vital support services, their education, fellow young carers, and creative activities. Every day, more than 6,000 young caregivers in West Sussex under the age of 18 take on substantial responsibilities. Covid-19 left many isolated and unable to access support or their schoolwork because they couldn’t afford a computer or internet access. After a successful fundraising appeal, CFT has now distributed 300 laptops to young carers most in need, through their schools and The West Sussex Young Carers service. Young Carers Connect also provides internet
access, a programme of online arts activities to entertain and inspire, and safely connects young carers with each other. Free bursaries are also available to any young carer aged 5-25 in West Sussex to join their local Chichester Festival Youth Theatre group (run in nine locations across the county). Young Carers Connect has been made possible by the generous support of The G D Charitable Trust and many private donors. To find out more, please visit cft.org.uk/young-carers-connect
‘We cannot thank CFT and all of their kind donors enough for this amazing offer. 12 of our families will be able to access online learning at home and will be able to complete all of their homework. Being part of the Young Carers Connect project also enables them to take part in virtual creative activities with CFT. What an amazing project.’ Andrew Strong, Headteacher, Portfield Primary Academy
cft.org.uk/leap
FOOD AND DRINK Enjoy delicious food and drink at our welcoming café and restaurant. Whether you’re having a meal before the show, simply relaxing with a coffee or powering up using our free Wi-Fi, we can’t wait to welcome you.
DINE BEFORE THE SHOW
GREAT COFFEE IN A GREAT LOCATION
Enjoy a contemporary British menu featuring local and seasonal ingredients, a selection of excellent wines and top-notch service in our stylish and award-winning restaurant The Brasserie – the closest restaurant to the Theatre.
A great spot for barista coffee, freshly made sandwiches, delicious cakes and a range of drinks. Our newly revamped Café on the Park is now open with extra outdoor seating overlooking Oaklands Park and new family friendly areas in our spacious foyer.
★★★★★
‘This was the first time the restaurant had opened after lockdown. The staff obviously delighted to be back, and the food excellent’. Richard B, via Bookatable 2020
Open Monday to Friday from 10am and from 9am on Saturday so ParkRunners can stop by for much needed refreshment.
Visit cft.org.uk/eat for opening times, reservations, menus and more.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
SOUTH PACIFIC Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener
RUBBING THE CONN
WIRES CLE
NECTING
EAN
South Pacific was originally programmed for 2020. One year on, and two weeks into rehearsals, we sat down with director Daniel Evans, choreographer and movement director Ann Yee, and actors Julian Ovenden, Gina Beck and Joanna Ampil to discover how they were approaching this new production. How does it feel to be rehearsing a show again? DE Having to make the show within Covid guidelines is a singular challenge. Everyone is doing daily testing; Ann is choreographing people in masks. Singing in visors means the actors can hear themselves very loudly but sound to us as though they’re in a booth. But I’m really proud of how the whole team has dealt with it. Making theatre again is possible! GB Apart from the circumstances, which aren’t ideal, it is a little bit – for me – like a rebirth. It’s obvious how much I’ve missed it. JA I was performing Cats in South Korea, and to constantly work throughout the pandemic was really a blessing. You never take it for granted any more. We had to adjust things to the new normal, with audiences and performers wearing masks, so this is not new to me now. Have the events of the past year led you to approach South Pacific in a different way than you would have done a year ago? JO Some of the really important themes in the show – racism, globalism versus nationalism, isolation, gender, the idea of what home is – have all become front page news over the past 16 months. DE The events of the last year have brought many of the challenges and themes into greater focus, both in a way that’s pertinent and perhaps that requires us to be even more careful in our navigation of some of the material. Firstly, Black Lives Matter as a movement was obviously accelerated and amplified because of what happened in Minneapolis; so historic issues around race
DANIEL EVANS ANN YEE