Chichester Festival Theatre in association with Cameron Mackintosh presents
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart Freely adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist Revised by Cameron Mackintosh
Welcome
Welcome
It’s an absolute joy to welcome you to this performance of Oliver!. What would a Festival season be without a magnificent musical as its centrepiece? We’re delighted that once again we are collaborating with producer extraordinaire Cameron Mackintosh, with whom we last worked on Half a Sixpence. Do read Cameron’s remarkable account of his six decade-long love of this iconic musical, and longstanding friendships and collaborations with both Lionel Bart and director and choreographer Matthew Bourne. We’re thrilled that Matthew, who is internationally renowned for his ground-breaking reinventions of dance classics such as Swan Lake and Edward Scissorhands, as well as his Olivier Award-winning choreography for My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins, is making his Chichester debut. Designer Lez Brotherston has created not only many memorable designs at Chichester over the years, including Me and My Girl, Fiddler on the Roof and Flowers for Mrs Harris, but has collaborated with Matthew on almost all the astonishing New Adventures productions. They reflect on their partnership in this programme. As Matthew says, Oliver! is part of our DNA as a nation; Lionel Bart’s brilliance as composer and lyricist ensured that almost all of us will go into the theatre with the songs already in our memories. We are welcoming a wonderful company to re-establish those matchless, ear-worm melodies in our heads this summer, and hope they all have a very enjoyable run in West Sussex. Following its premiere at the Festival Theatre, Oliver! will head to London’s Gielgud Theatre from December. But there’s plenty more to come this season in Chichester, too – including the world premiere of Redlands, Charlotte Jones’s riotous new play about the infamous Rolling Stones trial which will fill the Festival Theatre with a different kind of 1960s music. We hope you enjoy this performance, and to see you again soon.
Justin Audibert Artistic Director
Kathy Bourne Executive Director
Kathy Bourne and Justin Audibert Photograph by Peter Flude
These kids – they’re taking over the world – they’re the new aristocracy, man and the old guard don’t like it.
Redlands Festival Theatre 20 September – 18 October Sending the season out with ‘a bigger bang’ in the Festival Theatre, Charlotte Jones’s new play Redlands catapults us back to the Chichester of the 1960s and a moment of local history: the trial of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. CFT Artistic Director Justin Audibert is at the helm, and tells us: ‘This is a local story with national resonance. It tells the dramatic story of the drugs bust at Keith Richard’s house in the Witterings, and explores how Michael Havers QC manages to get the Rolling Stones acquitted; and how for his young son, the esteemed actor Nigel Havers, the experience changes his life forever.
‘As a dedicated Rolling Stones fan myself, it gives me enormous ‘Satisfaction’ to be directing this colourful, vibrant piece of ensemble theatre which will be supported with a live band onstage and some absolutely brilliant R&B songs.’
One minute to midnight. It’s time. Ladies and gentlemen, take a seat and I shall begin...
The Cat and the Canary Minerva Theatre 27 September – 26 October The Cat and the Canary, adapted by Carl Grose from the play by John Willard, is a hilariously chilling mixture of Agatha Christie and gothic horror that will have you shrieking with laughter and fear in equal measure. And there’s nobody better than the genius shape-shifting company Told by an Idiot, and director Paul Hunter, to tell it. Justin Audibert says: ‘Who doesn’t love a brilliantly scary ghost story as the nights get darker and chillier? This will be a physically entertaining piece of storytelling which centres around a motley group of characters who gather in a remote house in Cornwall to hear the reading of a will.
‘It has the perfect mixture of spooks, belly laughs and thrills to end the season.’
One of the ‘This is a friendly, welcoming space and my son loves it. I have actually developed my own confidence too!’ Each year, thousands of families are welcomed to Chichester Festival Theatre – many of them to shows such as Oliver! or our Christmas shows. But there are also plenty of fun-filled events and creative activities. Discover our wide range of pop-up one-day events for children and families, ranging from crafts with Creation Station, Lego with The BRICK People and origami with Fold Our City to musical moments for little ones with Baby Broadway, to name a few. Many are free or at minimal cost. Parents and carers can relax in our family friendly space in the Festival Theatre foyer while little ones make full use of the
Photos Richard Gibbons, Tim Hills
toys, games, craft and dressing up. Other free events this summer include Storytime Saturdays and live music Summer Sessions on Oaklands Park. And check out The Big Hoot Art Trail, running until 1 September, when 30 owl sculptures will swoop into public green spaces in Chichester and Arundel, including our very own ‘Owliver’ at CFT! Knees-up on the Park on Sunday 11 August will be a day of pure excitement for all ages. Dance like no one is watching at the silent disco, unravel the secrets of our heritage treasure trail, and ignite your creativity in a workshop. With live local music, plus delicious food and drink, there’ll be free and paid-for events – check out our website for full details. Last year, we introduced a brand new programme specially designed for underfives. ‘Mini Makers and Shakers’ includes regular weekly workshops such as Little Artists, Boogie with Baby and Mini Movers, and outreach sessions in local nurseries where children can explore their creativity through dance, singing,
he family playing instruments and art. In 2023 we also launched Chichester’s first Family Arts Network, uniting six cultural organisations across the city who want to shout out about all the wonderful family friendly things there are to do here. You can find out more at Facebook.com/ ChichesterKidsApproved familyarts.co.uk/chichester-network
We’ve recently partnered with HomeStart Chichester to enable vulnerable families to take part too. The sessions not only provide creative experiences for the children, but opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect socially with other adults, and develop new skills to support creative play at home. So – we hope you’ll ‘be back soon!’ cft.org.uk/families
Provenance Community Sustainability Creating exceptional food to enhance your Festival experience
Our ethos Delicious dishes are only as good as their component parts and community is a key factor for Caper & Berry and CFT. We believe that working with fantastic local producers has huge benefits to local communities and creates better environments.
In our larder Fresh ingredients have been at the centre of Caper & Berry’s ethos since 2004: Ultra Sustainable Suppliers
Chef’s Farms
- Tempus Cured Meats - Charlie’s Smokehouse - Cadd Oxshott Pizza
- Slade Farm Asparagus - Secretts Farm Leaves - Surrey Watercress
Discover more
Chichester Festival Theatre in association with Cameron Mackintosh presents
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart Freely adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist Reconceived by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh