THE UNFRIEND A new play by Steven Moffat
F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 2
Charlie Stemp
THE GERSHWIN MUSICAL COMEDY Music & Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Book by Ken Ludwig Co-conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent Inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan
A hilarious, riotously entertaining musical packed with glorious Gershwin melodies and stunning tap dance routines, directed and choreographed by the multi Tony and Olivier Award-winning Susan Stroman. Charlie Stemp (Half A Sixpence, Mary Poppins) returns to Chichester to lead the cast.
FESTIVAL THEATRE 11 July – 4 September #CrazyForYou
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WELCOME
KATHY BOURNE AND DANIEL EVANS PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAMUS RYAN
FESTIVAL 2022
Welcome to this performance of Steven Moffat’s new play, The Unfriend. As we know, the two-year delay to this production caused by the pandemic hasn’t brought much mirth to our lives, so we couldn’t be happier that director Mark Gatiss and his superb company - led by Amanda Abbington, Frances Barber and Reece Shearsmith are finally bringing Steven’s play to the stage two years after it was originally announced, at a time when laughter is necessary. Steven and Mark have, together and separately, created some of the most entertaining and memorable screen dramas of recent years - including
Sherlock, Dracula and Doctor Who; so we are thrilled that this world premiere is happening in the Minerva in our 60th anniversary year. Amanda, Frances and Reece are joined by Michael Simkins (making a welcome return to CFT), Maddie Holliday, Gabriel Howell and Marcus Onilude. There are more world premieres to relish this season, including Stephen Beresford’s The Southbury Child in the Festival Theatre in June, starring Alex Jennings, and Christopher Shinn’s The Narcissist in the Minerva this autumn. Enjoy today’s performance and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Executive Director Kathy Bourne
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Artistic Director Daniel Evans
F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 2
THE NARCISSIST A new play by Christopher Shinn A gripping, inventive and witty take on personal and political communication in the internet age. This world premiere from celebrated American playwright Christopher Shinn is directed by Josh Seymour.
MINERVA THEATRE 26 August – 24 September #TheNarcissist
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F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 2
LOCAL HERO Book by David Greig, Music & Lyrics by Mark Knopfler Based on the Bill Forsyth film CFT Artistic Director Daniel Evans directs a new musical version of this funny and enchanting story, featuring new songs by the legendary Mark Knopfler (formerly of Dire Straits).
MINERVA THEATRE 8 October – 19 November #LocalHero
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LEAP
Our Learning, Education and Participation (LEAP) programme offers practical workshops, projects and special events for over 62,000
GAME CHANGERS: COMMUNITY COMPANIES CFT’s programme of community events for adults range from weekly classes to talks and tours: allowing participants to discover more about the Theatre and its productions, as well as helping build confidence and gain new skills. Projects and initiatives includes CFT Buddies, the volunteer companion scheme, and Get Into It! – weekly sessions for adults to learn new skills in designing, acting, dancing, singing and devising. The latest initiative launched in September 2021. The Wednesday and Friday Community Companies offer weekly workshops for adults with learning disabilities. Sessions exploring creativity and developing personal and social skills are open to anyone over the age of 25, all within a supportive and fun-filled environment. As part of the Digital Stages events celebrating our 60th anniversary, the Wednesday and Friday groups will be creating Game Changer, combining gaming technology with theatrical storytelling and music to create a new virtual theatre experience.
auditorium, the Friday Company members will create a parallel universe on the digital stage with clay characters animated by 3D scanning technology. Meanwhile, the Wednesday Company members will be working alongside songwriter and musician Michael Fry to create a soundscape to accompany the digital story, offering an immersive utopia. Game Changer will be released from 8 July 2022; sign up to our regular e-newsletters to hear more about this and the full Digital Stages programme or head to our website, where you can also read more about our Community Companies and projects at cft.org.uk/take-part/community There are currently spaces available in our Wednesday Company, and we would welcome new members to join in the creative, fun and exciting projects we have planned. If you – or someone you know – would be interested in joining, you can book a free taster session or discuss our bursary scheme in confidence by contacting Louise Rigglesford, Senior Community and Outreach Manager, at louise.rigglesford@cft.org.uk.
The Friday Company will work with Brighton-based BRiGHTBLACK, a digital company specialising in interactive and immersive playable artwork. Using a highly accurate scan of the Festival Theatre
COMMUNITY
people throughout the year. We aim to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, culture and social background, is given the opportunity to enrich
their lives with the joy of creative expression and the arts.
‘I like being creative and having fun’ Wednesday Company member
‘It makes me feel happy and jolly’ Wednesday Company member
cft.org.uk/leap
DIGITAL STAGES Join us as we mark our 60th Anniversary with six dynamic digital events celebrating Chichester Festival Theatre across the decades. Using new technology to put the history of CFT centre stage, these special events will be released over our birthday week in July giving audiences across the globe an opportunity to celebrate with us. To be the first to hear more about Digital Stages, sign up to our newsletters at cft.org.uk or follow us on social media. cft.org.uk/DigitalStages
VISIONARY STAGES
From Sunday 3 July Step back in time and see our much-loved Festival Theatre as it was in 1962. Using cutting-edge technology, we have recreated the 1962 stage for a virtual meet-up with Daniel Evans and the Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival Theatre in Ontario, Canada, Antoni Cimolino. Launching on our official 60th birthday, they will talk about the shared history of the two buildings including the unique hexagonal designs. As they look back on 60 years of extraordinary theatre, they relive some favourite productions and meet up with special guests as we travel through the decades. Tickets £5
BACKSTAGE VIRTUAL TOUR
From Monday 4 July Ever wondered what lies beyond the stage at the Festival Theatre? In this immersive VR backstage tour you will encounter actors as they prepare to go on stage, and see the inner workings of the Theatre in virtual reality. This immersive unique experience will be available using VR headsets in the foyer this summer, or you can access a 360-degree video version on our YouTube channel. FREE
RE-STAGED
From Tuesday 5 July This could be your chance to relive a favourite CFT show! We’re bringing back a well-loved director and alumni cast (full details to be revealed…) to restage a scene from an archive production. Take your seat, wherever you are in the world, for this special Zoom performance. Tickets £5
DIGITAL DIORAMA
YOUR DREAM
From Wednesday 6 July Do you have what it takes to be the next Laurence Olivier? Want to join our biggest company yet? We’re inviting you all to take part in one mammoth online performance from A Midsummer Night’s Dream; you choose your own stage and your own costume, you are your own director! Just send us a video of you performing a pre-selected scene and we will edit them all together for a one-off screening online. The deadline for submissions is Friday 6 May so head to cft.org.uk/YourDream for full details. FREE
From Thursday 7 July A digital diorama sharing memories and anecdotes attached to 60 pieces from CFT’s fascinating archive will go on virtual display this summer. Model boxes, props, costumes, set designs, footage, programmes, artwork, time-lapses, interviews and sound bites will be shared to tell the story of our beloved Theatre through the last six decades. FREE
GAME CHANGER
From Friday 8 July Our endlessly creative ‘Wednesday and Friday’ community companies for adults with learning disabilities will combine gaming technology with theatrical storytelling and music to create a new virtual theatre experience. Using a highly accurate scan of our auditorium, they will work alongside experts to hone their skills in building a new digital theatre. FREE
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 light and relaxed menu of sharing platters and small plates featuring local and seasonal ingredients, a brilliant range of local gin and spirits as well as beers and wines in our award-winning restaurant the Minerva Bar & Grill – the closest restaurant to the Minerva Theatre.
A great spot for barista coffee, freshly made sandwiches, delicious cakes and a range of drinks. Our Café on the Park offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Oaklands Park and family friendly areas in our spacious foyer.
Open for matinees from 12pm and evening shows from 5pm. Also available for private hires and functions.
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, call 01243 782219 or email dining@cft.org.uk for opening times, reservations, menus and more.
THE UNFRIEND A new play by Steven Moffat
‘CAN I COME TO THE OPENING NIGHT?’
Steven Moffat on the inspiration for The Unfriend Sitting on a patio in France with a spectacular view of a valley, I suddenly had the impulse to kill any other writer in the immediate vicinity. In fairness, this isn’t unusual for me – but for once I had a specific reason. Context: this was three or four years ago. I was in a little town called Callas with my brother-in-law David and an old friend I shall call Peter (largely because it’s his real name but shh!). This was one of our regular trips. David and his wife had a lovely house there which they rented out, and now and then David would pop over to do some maintenance. Peter and I would go with him to assist with any afternoon drinking. David would spend the morning mending things and Peter and I would spend the morning avoiding David in case he asked for help with a toilet. Then in the afternoon we’d drift into town, choose a patio and a view, and tell each other stories. This time Peter owned the day. He told the best kind of story. Not a story of something that really happened – a story of something that nearly really happened. For what it’s worth the first 20 minutes or so of this play are true. Of course, in boring old reality, Peter and Debbie managed to avert the social disaster you’re about to see developing: hold tight because comedy will not be so merciful. Laughter is a cruel mistress. Laughter, however, was the last thing on my mind when Peter told his story: like any writer on a sunny weekend away, I was filled with rage and fear. ‘Why,’ I demanded ‘haven’t you told me this story before!’. It was, to be clear, the best idea for a comedy play I’d ever heard. ‘Well, it only happened a couple of years ago’, explained Peter. A couple of years? The fear was really kicking in now. How many writers had heard Peter carelessly blurting out my new great idea for a play before I’d even stolen it? I glanced round the other tables. What about all these STEVEN MOFFAT
people listening? Could any of them be writers? I examined them all for poor social skills and cheap shoes. My hand was now gripping tightly on to my fork in case I had to take decisive action. ‘Peter,’ I said as calmly as any man could while contemplating the random slaughter of potential writers on a sunlit patio, ‘can I have it?’ ‘Have what?’ ‘Your story. Can I have it?’ ‘What do you mean, have it?’ ‘Can I have that story and write it as a play, except change it a bit so that the thing that doesn’t happen, does happen?’ Peter considered. An old lady at the next table was now staring vacantly at the view. Had she heard? Was she developing her own idea for a miniseries or a Netflix special? There was, I noticed, a vein in her neck in easy reach. ‘Can I come to the opening night?’ asked Peter. ‘Yes, of course you can’. ‘And maybe some other nights?’ ‘Yes, why not?’ (Take a look around – he might be sitting next to you.) ‘Oh, and keep our names the same. Me and Debbie, don’t change our names in the play!’ I thought about that. ‘Given the nature of the story and the particular, erm, hobby of the person you met... do you think that’s a tremendously good idea?’ ‘Maybe change our names a little bit.’ ‘I’ll do that.’ I can’t remember how the rest of the conversation went and that’s probably because I wasn’t really listening. Comedy gold had just dropped into my lap. Filming was about to start on a TV version of Dracula (which I’d co-written with the director of this play, Mark Gatiss), I’d already signed to adapt The Time Traveler’s Wife for HBO and there was a four-part thriller for the BBC I was keen to get on with – but suddenly all I wanted to do was get back to my laptop and start writing The Unfriend. Which is exactly what I did. I had a great time writing it, and then some people were kind enough to like it, and here we all are. And you know what? I didn’t even have to kill that old lady. Or did I?