Chichester Theatre

Chichester Festival Theatre stands in Oaklands Park on the northern edge of Chichester, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral and the city centre. Opened in 1962 with Sir Laurence Olivier as its founding artistic director, it was one of the first modern theatres in Britain to use a thrust stage, with the audience wrapped around three sides for an unusually intimate big-house experience.

The hexagonal main auditorium seats just over 1,300, and is partnered by the smaller, more flexible Minerva Theatre, added in 1989. Together they host the annual Chichester Festival each summer, a programme of new plays, revived classics and large-scale musicals that frequently transfer to the West End and Broadway. Year-round productions, touring shows and a respected youth theatre keep the building busy outside the festival months.

The theatre itself, designed by Powell and Moya, is a Grade II* listed example of post-war modernism, set in mature parkland with a restaurant, cafe and outdoor terraces. A short walk takes visitors to the Bishop's Palace Gardens, Pallant House Gallery and the medieval centre of Chichester.