Chichester Festival Theatre announces 2026 season, including Atonement, Munya Chawawa and My Fair Lady
A selection of shows from Chichester Festival Theatre’s season
Chichester Festival Theatre has announced its 2026 season, running from March to December.
The season opens with Tom Wells’ stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG, with additional material by Jenny Worton and direction by Daniel Evans, running in the Festival Theatre from 9 March to 11 April, before transferring to Singapore. It recently concluded a celebrated run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
David Haig will present the world premiere of his new play Magic, which has also revealed casting and further information.
John Morton’s debut stage play Eclipse opens the smaller Minerva Theatre season from 8 May to 6 June. Written and directed by Morton, the play stars Sarah Parish and Rupert Penry-Jones and centres on a family gathering in a Devon rectory as tensions emerge while their father lies dying in the next room.
Design is by Simon Higlett, with lighting design by Emma Chapman and sound design by Ed Clarke. Fiona Dunn is associate director.
Christopher Hampton has adapted Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement for the stage – which was announced here.
Geraldine James will make her Chichester debut in 45 Years, adapted for the stage by Hannah Patterson from Andrew Haigh’s film. Directed by UK Theatre Award winner Prasanna Puwanarajah, the production runs in the Minerva Theatre from 12 June to 11 July. The design is by James Cotterill with lighting design by Guy Hoare.
Chichester will stage Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady for the first time – announced here.
Emily White’s play Atlantis runs in the Minerva Theatre from 18 July to 15 August, with a press night on 22 July, following an earlier run at Theatr Clwyd. The production is directed by Guy Jones and designed by Frankie Bradshaw, with lighting design by Joshua Pharo, composition and sound design by Holly Khan and movement direction by Jess Williams.
Stephanie Street’s play a small and quiet light, based on the life of Special Operations Executive agent Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, runs in the Minerva Theatre from 21 August to 12 September, with a press night on 27 August. The production will later transfer to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond from 21 September to 24 October.
Directed by Diyan Zora and Elin Schofield, the production stars Priyanga Burford. The design is by Anna Yates, with sound design by Tingying Dong.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Chichester Festival Theatre with Munya Chawawa, photo supplied by the venue
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, co-directed by Justin Audibert and Hannah Joss, runs in the Festival Theatre from 18 September to 17 October, with a press night on 25 September.
Actor, comedian and comedy rapper Munya Chawawa will make his theatrical debut as Bottom and Jemima Rooper will play Titania in the take on Shakespeare, inspired by ’90s rave culture. Set design is by Joanna Scotcher, with costume design by Ryan Dawson Laight and composition and sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.
Nina Segal’s Antigone Exits, directed by Jeff James, runs in the Minerva Theatre from 26 September to 17 October, with a press night on 1 October. The production is designed by Alex Lowde.
The festive programme includes the return of Hey! Christmas Tree, written by Vicki Berwick with music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer, running in the Minerva Theatre from 5 to 27 December.
Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will present Stiles and Drewe’s Peter Pan – a musical adventure in the Festival Theatre from 14 to 30 December.
Across the season, 21,000 tickets priced at £10 and £15 will be available, alongside 10,000 £5 Prologue tickets for audiences aged 16 to 30.
The theatre’s studio venue The Nest will continue its programme of performances by emerging artists, alongside comedy, music and drama. A programme of events including talks, backstage tours, live music and family activities will accompany the season.
