Coronavirus: Chichester Festival Theatre cancels 2020 festival productions

Chichester Festival Theatre has cancelled the remaining shows in its 2020 season, with plans to remount some next year.

The theatre had previously indicated it could reopen in time for its revival of South Pacific in July, but has now said it now hopes to recommence operations with a revised, shorter programme of work in the autumn.

This means cancelling planned performances of South Pacific and The Unfriend.

In a joint statement, artistic director Daniel Evans and executive director Kathy Bourne said: "We are devastated that for the only time in Chichester Festival Theatre’s history, no festival performances will take place this year. We had been hoping to be able to produce at least some Festival 2020 shows in the summer and autumn; but all the indications from government point to social distancing being in place for many months to come, as the country continues its vital fight against coronavirus while protecting the NHS.

"At this unprecedented time, with the full support of the trustees, we feel this is the most responsible course of action we can take in order to ensure the future resilience of our organisation as well as protecting our staff, artists and audiences."

Evans and Bourne said their new schedule for 2021 would include some planned shows from 2020, including South Pacific and The Unfriend.

They added: "We are determined to stay connected to our audiences through our learning, education and participation activities and online streaming, and to continue the initiatives we have implemented which support our community, such as our partnership with the Chichester Scrub Hub, lending our accommodation to the NHS and helping UK Harvest with food deliveries.

"We are immensely grateful to our supporters and sponsors who have stayed with us during this hugely challenging period; and to the many people who have sent us good wishes and donations. We are living for the moment we can reopen our doors, gather together and make some theatre."