Rolls Royce has supported city theatre for 20 years
Rolls-royce Motor Cars is celebrating 20 years as a leading supporter of the nearby Chichester Festival Theatre – a continuous relationship that dates from the start of motor car production at the Home of Rollsroyce at Goodwood in 2003.
Rolls-royce is one of a select group of Platinum Sponsors at the world-renowned theatre, which lies just a couple of miles from the marque’s Goodwood site.
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, at Rolls-royce said: “This year we mark 20 years of hand-crafting motor cars at Goodwood, and throughout that time, we’ve enjoyed a wonderful relationship with our friends at Chichester Festival Theatre.
"This acclaimed venue is one of our home city’s crown jewels. As one of just a handful of Platinum Sponsors, it’s our privilege and pleasure to support its wonderful work, both on its fabled stageandinthelocalcommunity. Together,werepresenttwogreat Chichester institutions, with a shared commitment to championing creativity, community engagement and practising our respective arts at the very highest level.”
Chichester Festival Theatre wasfoundedin1962,financedby donations from local businesses andindividualsinanearlyexample of what today would be called crowdfunding. The main auditorium seats up to 1,300 people, witha‘thruststage’designequallysuitedtomusicalsandepicdrama. A Grade II* Listed building, it underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2014.
The opening night was on 3 July 1962, under the artistic directorship of the legendary actor, Sir Laurence Olivier, and the company became the nucleus of his new National Theatre company.
Inthesixdecadessince,many productionsincludingmusicals, new plays and classic revivals have transferred successfully to London’s West End and toured both nationally and internationally. Its flagship Festival Season runs from April to October and attractsalmostaquarterofamillion theatregoers annually; the Theatre also runs an extensive programme of workshops and events for the local community.
Asaplatinumsponsor,rollsroycemotorcarsisanimportant contributortothetheatre’sartistic and outreach work, promoting the creativity and excellence that are central to the marque’s own values.
The relationship also underlines the deep roots Rolls-royce has established in the local communitysinceitchosechichester asthelocationforitsnewhomein the early 2000s.