NEWS

Chichester Festival Theatre Announces Festival 2023 Continued

It’s the 1970s and feminism is on the rise, in Rock Follies, a new musical by Chloë Moss. Fed up with the male-dominated entertainment industry, Anna, Dee and Q take the future into their own hands and form a rock band – the ironically named ‘Little Ladies’. And so begins the musical helterskelter ride of a lifetime. Can principles and ambition co-exist? And can their friendship survive in the dog-eat-dog world of rock? With a book by Chloë Moss and original songs from the ground-breaking TV series by Howard Schuman and Andy Mackay, this punchy new musical brings a rousing, riotous rollercoaster of woman power to the Minerva Theatre on Mon 24 July – Sat 26 Aug.

Chichester Festival Youth Theatre present Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Chichester’s West Dean Gardens on Fri 4 –Sat 19 Aug. Faced with unwanted marriages and parents who don’t listen, four teenage lovers flee the city. But in the forest things are no better: the Fairy King and Queen are at war and a bunch of wannabe actors struggle to get their show off the ground. In this enchanted, topsy-turvy world, their dream of escape threatens to turn into a nightmare. Friends fall out, transformations abound, and magic piles on mayhem.

Directed by Emma Butler, Deborah FrancesWhite’s Never Have I Ever heads to Minerva Theatre on Fri 1 – Sat 30 Sept. Jacq and Kas’s boutique restaurant has gone bust, and telling their oldest friends Adaego and her rich husband Tobin that his investment is toast is only the start of the evening. Cash, class, identity and infidelity are all on the menu. As the last of the expensive wine flows, a dangerous drinking game reveals longhidden truths and provokes an unspeakable dare. This explosive first play the comedian, screenwriter and host of global hit podcast The Guilty Feminist, brilliantly skewers the contradictions of contemporary society, and the shifting sands of power and sexual politics.

Rory Bremner appears in Quiz on Fri 22 – Sat 30 Sept at the Festival Theatre. This revised version of James Graham’s celebrated comedy is directed by Daniel Evans and Seán Linnen and opens a brand-new UK tour at Chichester. A fictional exploration of deviousness and recriminations based on real events around a certain hit gameshow, it asks the question of what would you try to get away with in the name of money?

Directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart, Arthur Miller A View From The Bridge comes to the Festival Theatre on Sun 6 – Sat 28 Oct. Arthur Miller’s visceral and compelling drama is a timeless masterpiece. On the Brooklyn waterfront, where the fierce passions of ancestral Sicily linger, the orphaned Catherine falls for her handsome, newly arrived cousin Rodolfo – an illegal immigrant. Their romance is encouraged by her aunt Beatrice but viewed with revulsion by her uncle, Eddie Carbone, who harbours an unspoken desire. As tensions rise, their story spins inexorably beyond control.

Directed by Joanna Bowman, The Inquiry is

STEVE HILLAGE & GONG

Legendary sonic wizard Steve Hillage comes to Brighton’s Concorde 2 on Sun 2 April From acid rock to acid house, musician this virtuoso guitarist, techno futurist and prog visionary, has been on an incredible, transcendent journey for the past 50 years. In the 80s and 90s he worked as a producer for a number of diverse artists, including Simple Minds, It Bites, Real Life, Cock Robin, Tony Banks, Robyn Hitchcock and The Charlatans.

The list of major artists he’s performed and recorded with is just as extensive, working in various experimental domains since the late 60s - including collaborations with his long-term partner Miquette Giraudy on the ambient outfit System 7 and his solo studio albums. Hillage will be joined on stage by his iconic progg outfit Gong, alongside support from Utopia Strong playing cuts from his cherished solo albums Fish Rising, L, Green and Motivation Radio – plus a few surprises and never before played live tracks taken from Steve’s illustrious catalogue.

a new play by Harry Davies at the Minerva Theatre on Fri 13 Oct – Sun 4 Nov. MP Arthur Gill is one of Westminster’s rising stars. Still in his 30s, he’s just become the Secretary of State for Justice, assuming the role of Lord Chancellor too; and with a leadership race on the horizon, he’s a favourite to be the next Prime Minister. But there’s a problem. An inquiry is on the brink of publishing its findings about a public health disaster: a scandal that happened on Gill’s watch when he was environment minister. As leaks multiply and the waters grow murkier, how far will he go to hide his past and protect his future?

For details on all these productions, along with the rich array of satellite events, workshops, talks, and family activities, head to: www.cft.org.uk

One of the South’s freshest and most empowering arts festivals is back on Mon 6 – Sun 12 March. FemFest also has a new home at The Actors on Brighton’s Princes St. Taking place during the week of International Women’s Day, FemFest will showcase work from women, nonbinary and trans people.

FemFest is striving to be a more economically accessible festival this year, so is offering a free ticket fund for people who cannot afford to attend and maintaining a no-questions-asked approach to concessions. FemFest hopes to lead the way for other arts institutions to take note so that more people can access culture in the city.

The Festival boasts a host of inspiring events throughout the week. Including Dry Season from Bristol’s City Poet (2022-23) Kat Lyons, Blood, Sweat And Vaginas from Paula David (who had a run at London’s SoHo Theatre last month), Madonna/Whore from Musical Comedy Awards 2021 Finalist, Selena Mersey and much more.

“I am so excited to be heading into our fourth year at FemFest,” said Artistic Director, Maddie Ross. “This year is looking bigger and better than ever, we have seventeen fantastic events made by women, nonbinary and trans people. I’m over the moon to be starting our Early Career Artist mentorship this year with three amazing acts. We are very excited to help them to make creative and innovative work at the festival without having to shoulder the financial burden expected at many other festivals across the UK.

For more details, visit: www.femfestbrighton.co.uk

Ukrainian National Opera To Come To The Hawth

For the first time ever the Ukrainian National Opera is touring the UK, which includes a visit to Crawley’s The Hawth with Aida on Mon 27 March. Coming all the way from Dnipro, Ukraine, this opera company, features an impressive cast and accompanied by a large live orchestra of over thirty musicians.

This staging of Verdi’s classic features brand new settings and fantastic costumes, along with exquisite singing and wonderful tunes that you will be humming to yourself all the way home.

A powerful opera with breath-taking melodies, Aida brings ancient Egypt to the stage with an evolving love story set against the backdrop of war. The Princess of Ethiopia and an Egyptian General fall in love, just before he is chosen by the king to lead the war with Ethiopiaforcing Aida to choose between her lover or her father and her country.

For more information, go to: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth