about:Exhibition

Parkland to Performance is a volunteer curated exhibition that shows highlights from Chichester Festival Theatre's archive.

Title banner

 

alice 23 small
The White Rabbit in CFYT’s production of Alice in Wonderland, 2010, CFT digital archive

Parkland to Performance is a volunteer curated exhibition that shows highlights from Chichester Festival Theatre’s archive.

The exhibition has evolved from an archive of 300 boxes, including over 2,000 folders and countless pieces of paper, into a collection of carefully chosen items presented in two sections; the Foundation archive and the Production archive.

A team of eight volunteers have been coming together since August 2014 to research, select, arrange and design this exhibition with the support of a range of heritage experts and museum professionals.

Exhibits include letters, photographs and costume designs as well as some unusual objects such as models, props and set pieces.  Footage from the early 60s and oral histories collected throughout the project have also helped to bring some of these stories to life.

LO from contact sheet
Laurence Olivier at the topping out ceremony 1962, CFT archive held at WSRO

‘For visitors who haven’t been to the Festival Theatre before we hope that the exhibition will be an interesting introduction to the building’s extraordinary story.  For regular visitors it is a chance to gain a greater insight into the backstage workings of the Theatre and productions they have seen.’  Sophie Shaw Heritage Activities Manager

The exhibition is free will tour venues in West Sussex and east Hampshire throughout 2015 and into 2016, including:

The Capitol, Horsham – 17 February to 21 March

The Spring, Havant – 4 April to 27 June

Midhurst Museum, Midhurst – 30 June – 2 August

The Minerva Foyer, Chichester Festival Theatre – 3 July – 5 September

Littlehampton Museum – 12 September to 16 October