Why theatre matters so much in our troubled times
Rehearsals for The Taxidermist’s Daughter – the opening play in the 2022 Chichester Festival Theatre season – got under way against the background of the awful news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
CFT artistic director Daniel Evans said: “Obviously we are living in grim times again. So what do you do?
“I think the answer is that you have got to keep making work that is going to bring joy and thought and challenge to people. There is a feeling that when the news is as bad as it is now, then what does the theatre really matter but actually in the past couple of years we have seen just how much the theatre really does matter and that’s why we carry on, why we bring so much to people especially when times are difficult.”
And that’s very much part of the context for this year’s summer season, a summer season that will reflect two things: the theatre’s 60th anniversary and our collective emergence from Covid.
“We want to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee but we also feel a sense of making sure that we can honour as much work as we can, particularly the newer plays, particularly younger directors and the younger artists, all the people that have been through this difficult journey and we also want to honour our audiences.
“There are people that have held onto their tickets The Taxidermist’s Daughter for two years now and if that is not an example of incredible loyalty, then I don’t know what is!”
It’s about rewarding everyone, Daniel says, and the big summer musical certainly falls into that category –
Crazy For You, music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman on the main-house stage from July 11-September 4.
“It has got an amazing score with some wonderful songs and we have got Broadway royalty coming to direct and choreograph it for us in Chichester. We asked Susan Stroman and she said yes! And it is just extraordinary to think of it. She is bringing a top Broadway team with her, and the great news is that we have also got Charlie Stemp who is going to play the lead.”
Charlie impressed everyone with his breakout role in Half A Sixpence at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2016, since when his career has soared including performing on Broadway with Bette Midler. Currently he is in the West End with Mary Poppins but, as Daniel says Charlie is delighted to be coming “home” to Chichester this summer.
The 2022 season:
The Taxidermist’s Daughter, adapted for the stage by Kate Mosse, April 8-30, Festival Theatre.
Our Generation, a new play by Alecky Blythe, directed by Daniel Evans, April 22-May 14, Minerva Theatre.
Henry Goodman in Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, directed by Jonathan Church, May 13June 4, Festival Theatre.
Amanda Abbington, Frances Barber and Reece Shearsmith in The Unfriend, May 21-July 9, Minerva Theatre.
Alex Jennings in The Southbury Child, a new play by Stephen Beresford, June 13-25, Festival Theatre.
Crazy For You, music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, July 11-September 4, Festival Theatre.
Sing Yer Heart Out For
The Lads by Roy Williams, July 22-August 13, Minerva Theatre.
The Narcissist, a new play by Christopher Shinn, August 26-September 24.
Woman In Mind by Alan Ayckbourn, September 23-October 15, Festival Theatre.
Local Hero, October 8-November 19, Minerva Theatre.
The Famous Five, a new musical, October 21-November 12, Festival Theatre.
Priority booking for Friends of Chichester Festival Theatre opens Saturday, March 12; general booking March 19.