COMING SOON Chichester Festival Theatre 2013 Season part 1 – Theatre In The Park
I’ve always felt that I’m lucky to have been born and raised in Portsmouth (and you won’t often hear people say that), not just because of the wealth of great theatre, both professional and ‘amateur’ in this city, but also because we’re so close not only to The Mayflower in Southampton but also to the wonderful Chichester Festival Theatre!
CFT have recently announced their festival line-up for 2013 and it would be remiss of us not to pass a little comment on what’s coming up!
It’s an exciting year for the theatre as their main auditorium will be refurbished, starting in June, so whilst the Minerva Theatre will be going along with business as usual, what could the folks at Chichester do to capitalise on the success of 2012’s season, and the 220,000 or so visitors they received?
Well, what better than to simply head across the road to the lovely parkland nearby and build a state of the art temporary auditorium? Well, as great an idea as that is on it’s own, the folks at CFT have capitalised on it by putting on the perfect show for such circumstances… The 2013 Chichester Festival Theatre Season will have Barnum as it’s marquee show. Presented in association with Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Timothy Sheader who is also Artistic Director of Regents Park Open Air Theatre, and with Broadway veteran Christopher Fitzgerald in the title role, this looks to be an extremely exciting production… we’re already wondering whether it will transfer to the West End!
The other production to take place at the Theatre In The Park will be Neville’s Island. Written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Our House) and directed by Chichetser’s Associate Director Angus Jackson (who will also direct ‘If Only’ at the Minerva), Neville’s Ilsand tells the story of four milddle aged, out of shape, businessmen who are sent off on team building exercise and somehow become the first people ever to be shipwrecked on a small island in the lake district. It sounds huge fun and we’ve come to trust Tim Firth’s ability to write hilarious, yet poignant, theatre!
Check back tomorrow for our preview of this year’s shows at The Minerva Theatre!
As you can see, there’s lots to be excited about and something here for everyone… to find out more or to book tickets head to cft.org.uk or call the box office on 01243 781312.
