Artistic Director Justin Audibert and Executive Director Kathy Bourne have officially pulled back the curtain on Festival 2026, a season defined by eight world premieres, massive musical revivals, and star-studded dramas. Running from March to October, the lineup balances high-spectacle entertainment with intimate, thought-provoking new works.
Classic Musicals and Shakespearean Raves
In a historic first, the Festival Theatre will stage Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh. This "perfect musical" promises a lush production featuring iconic choreography by Stephen Mear.
Closing the mainstage season, Justin Audibert and Hannah Joss co-direct a radical reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Moving from the 1960s to the 1990s Sussex rave scene, the production features comedian Munya Chawawa in his theatrical debut as Bottom, alongside Jemima Rooper as Titania.
Groundbreaking World Premieres
The 2026 season is heavily focused on new writing and prestigious adaptations:
Magic: David Haig writes and stars as Arthur Conan Doyle, opposite Hadley Fraser’s Harry Houdini, in a drama exploring the 100th anniversary of the illusionist's death.
Atonement: Ian McEwan’s masterpiece is adapted for the stage by Christopher Hampton, directed by Adam Penford (The Sound of Music).
Eclipse: W1A writer John Morton makes his stage debut with a "painfully funny" family drama starring Sarah Parish and Rupert Penry-Jones.
45 Years: Geraldine James stars in a new stage version of the acclaimed Andrew Haigh film.
a small and quiet light: Priyanga Burford leads a co-production with the Orange Tree Theatre, telling the heroic story of SOE operative Noor Inayat Khan.
Family Magic and Accessibility
The season opens with a "giant" production of Roald Dahl’s The BFG, directed by Daniel Evans in a massive multi-theatre collaboration. For the festive season, the beloved CFYT returns with Peter Pan, while the enchanting Hey! Christmas Tree makes a welcome return to the Minerva.
Chichester continues its commitment to accessibility with 21,000 tickets priced at £10 and £15, alongside 10,000 £5 Prologue tickets for those aged 16–30.
