Chichester Festival Theatre's Midsummer Night's Dream, set at a 1994 South Downs rave, runs to 17 October: prices from £15, discounts, free post-show talk.
Chichester Festival Theatre’s last main-house show of the year is set in Chichester itself. Its A Midsummer Night’s Dream has moved Shakespeare to 1994, with a rave on the South Downs. It runs until Saturday 17 October, which leaves under three weeks to see it.
The production opened on 18 September and the national critics have now reviewed it. We have not seen it, so this is not a review. It is what the theatre has published about the show, the tickets and the extra events.
What the production is
In the theatre’s own description, it is 1994 in Chichester. Theseus is a Tory MP “riding high after shutting down free raves across the county”, helped by the local Chief Constable, Egeus. The four young lovers escape to the South Downs. There, Oberon and Titania, described as “bohemian aristo-landowners”, are organising an illegal rave with Puck.
The mechanicals who put on a play for Theseus’s wedding are recast as the local Young Conservatives. Bottom is their newest member.
The key people, as listed by the theatre:
- Munya Chawawa, the comedian and satirist, plays Bottom
- David Sturzaker and Eve Ponsonby play Oberon and Titania
- Shane David-Joseph plays Puck
- Justin Audibert, the theatre’s artistic director, co-directs with Hannah Joss
- Joanna Scotcher designed the set
The show runs 2 hours 20 minutes including an interval.
On its production page, the theatre quotes five stars from WhatsOnStage and four stars each from The Telegraph and The Guardian.
Tickets and prices
The theatre’s published “from” prices for evening and matinee performances run across five seat bands:
| Band | Price from |
|---|---|
| Pink | £15 |
| Green | £22 |
| Orange | £32 |
| Yellow | £44 |
| Blue | £59 |
The theatre says listed prices “are subject to change in response to demand”. Tickets are non-refundable. You can exchange them for another date of the same show if you return them at least 48 hours before, for a £2 fee per ticket.
Cheaper ways in
The discounts on the production page include:
- Families: half price for up to four under-16s with each full-price adult, except on Saturday evenings
- Over 60s: £2 off full-price tickets at weekday performances
- Students in higher education, and Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit claimants: half price at weekday performances, or a £10 standby ticket from an hour before curtain, subject to availability and proof of eligibility
- 16 to 30 year olds: £5 Prologue tickets may be available to members
- Groups of eight or more: £30 a ticket on Mondays and Tuesdays
Most discounts apply only to the top three price bands. Only one reduction applies per ticket.
Extra events
- Post-show talk, Friday 16 October: the cast and creative team answer questions after the performance. It is free, and there is no need to book. Stay in your seat when the show ends.
- Experience weekend, 10 and 11 October: a two-day event with a tour, discussions and a masterclass with the creative team. The price includes a matinee ticket.
What it means for you
If you want to go, the run ends on 17 October and prices rise with demand, so booking sooner is cheaper. A family of one adult and up to four children gets the biggest saving, as long as you avoid Saturday evenings.
The theatre warns that the show contains strobe lighting, flashing lights, class 4 lasers, smoking effects, haze and loud music. That matters if you or anyone you are bringing has photosensitive epilepsy.
The theatre is in Oaklands Park, about a 20 minute walk from Chichester station. The Stagecoach 60 bus stops nearby. If you are driving, our guide to parking in Chichester covers the Northgate car park next to the theatre, and our roadworks and travel page lists what is closed this week.
For everything else on in the city, see things to do in Chichester.
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