13 hours Ago
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer is set to make her debut at Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) in a new adaptation of Anna Karenina. The actress, known for her role as Margaery Tyrell, will take on the title role in the adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic, which will run from June 7 to 28, 2025. The production, which will also feature David Oakes as Levin, promises to mix period elegance with a modern tone and will be directed by Phillip Breen.
This is just part of CFT's packed lineup for Festival 2025, which will run from April to December. The programme includes five world premieres, two UK premieres, and two major musicals, along with adaptations of literary classics and original dramas. Musical highlights include a new production of Irving Berlin’s Top Hat, directed by Kathleen Marshall, and a folk-inspired adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, starring Mark Addy and Jenna Russell, with music and lyrics by Passenger.
In the realm of drama, Beverley Knight will star in the UK premiere of Marie and Rosetta, a celebration of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock ‘n’ roll. Giles Terera will take on the lead role in Chichester's first-ever production of Hamlet, while Anthony Lau will direct a new staging of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Among the world premieres scheduled are The Government Inspector, starring Tom Rosenthal, a new adaptation of Gogol’s classic political satire; Choir, a play about music and community by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti; and Safe Space, a drama about university campus politics by Jamie Bogyo.
For family audiences, the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will bring Matt Haig’s A Boy Called Christmas to life for its 40th anniversary, and younger audiences can enjoy a musical adventure in The Three Little Pigs, in partnership with the Unicorn Theatre. Looking ahead to 2026, the festival has also announced a major co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company: Roald Dahl’s The BFG, directed by Daniel Evans. Summer 2025 will also see the launch of a new studio space, The Nest, which will serve as a hub for emerging artists, community projects, and experimental theatre.
CFT is committed to affordable and inclusive theatre, with 12,000 tickets priced at £10 and 9,000 £5 Prologue tickets available for 16 to 30-year-olds. Festival 2025 will also feature a range of off-stage events, including live music, backstage tours, pre-show talks, and family-friendly activities and workshops. Priority booking opens on February 22, with general booking from March 1.
Tickets can be booked at cft.org.uk or by calling the box office on 01243 781312.
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