Archive: Founder’s Scrapbook (1964)

One scrapbook in a series collected by Chichester Festival Theatre’s founder, Leslie Evershed-Martin. He started collecting ephemera in the run up to the Theatre’s opening and continued until his death in 1991. They are presented as seen in their physical form.

Archive: Founder’s Scrapbook (1963)

One scrapbook in a series collected by Chichester Festival Theatre’s founder, Leslie Evershed-Martin. He started collecting ephemera in the run up to the Theatre’s opening and continued until his death in 1991. They are presented as seen in their physical form.

Archive: Set design, Saint Joan (1963)

Pen and ink  design for the set of Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, portraying the three-dimensional effect of the thrust stage. The production starred Joan Plowright and was directed by John Dexter.

Designer: Michael Annals

CFT archive held at West Sussex Records Office.

Archive: Architecture Plan, (c.1961)

One of Powell and Moya’s original architecture plans of the Festival Theatre auditorium with layouts of the stage, seating, control room and entrances and exits.

CFT archive held at West Sussex Records Office.

Archive: Founder’s Scrapbook (1962) 1 of 2

This is the first scrapbook in a series collected by Chichester Festival Theatre’s founder, Leslie Evershed-Martin. He started collecting ephemera in the run up to the Theatre’s opening and continued until his death in 1991. This particular scrapbook is one of two which provide a personal insight into the opening of the Theatre in 1962. They are presented as seen in their physical form.

Highlights include a personal telegram from Vivien Leigh and the Queen.

Click here to download a comprehensive and fully searchable contents page for this scrapbook.

Private collection.

Archive: Letter, Jane Eyre (1986)

Michael Lynas was the company stage manager on Jane Eyre at Chichester Festival Theatre in 1986. This is a thank you letter to him from the family of a child actor who took part in the production.

8 December 1986, CFT archive held at West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Set model, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2006)

Simon Higlett’s set model showing his design for The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Part I, presented at Chichester Festival Theatre alongside Part II as part of its 2006 Season. These plays were brought back to Chichester Festival Theatre in 2007 and then went on tour.

This version of the model shows the set as it was modified for proscenium arch stages on this tour; the balconies at the sides would have restricted the views of people sitting to the sides of the Festival Theatre’s thrust stage.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby was adapted from Charles Dickens novel into two parts by David Edgar and first performed in 1980.

CFT archive, held at The West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Costume design, Enemy of the People (1975)

Michael Stennett’s costume design for Dr Stockmann in Henrik Ibsen’s Enemy of the People, written in 1882 and performed at Chichester Festival Theatre in 1975. In this production Dr Stockmann was played by Donald Sinden.

CFT archive, held at West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Costume bulletin, The Spershott Version (1986)

A bulletin sent out to cast members of The Spershott Version in the run up to a meeting relating to costume requirements and make up.

The Spershott Version was a promenade performance that traveled the streets of Chichester and drew on a large community cast. It was presented to celebrate the history of Chichester as part of the 25th festival season of Chichester Festival Theatre.

The play was based on the memoirs of James Spershott a  joiner born in Chichester in the 18th Century. It featured stories on the Plague, John Keats, William Blake and much more.

From the CFT archive held at the West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Costume design, The Spershott Version (1986)

Costume designs for townspeople by Paul Farnsworth for the 1986 production of The Spershott Version.

The Spershott Version was a promenade performance that traveled the streets of Chichester and drew on a large community cast. It was presented to celebrate the history of Chichester as part of the 25th festival season of Chichester Festival Theatre.

The production is based on the memoirs of James Spershott a  joiner born in Chichester in the 18th Century, featuring stories on the Plague, John Keats, William Blake and much more.

From the CFT archive held at the West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Costume design, The Spershott Version (1986)

Costume designs for servants by Paul Farnsworth for the 1986 production of The Spershott Version.

The Spershott Version was a promenade performance that traveled the streets of Chichester and drew on a large community cast. It was presented to celebrate the history of Chichester as part of the 25th festival season of Chichester Festival Theatre.

The production is based on the memoirs of James Spershott a  joiner born in Chichester in the 18th Century, featuring stories on the Plague, John Keats, William Blake and much more.

From the CFT archive held at the West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Costume design, The Spershott Version (1986)

Costume designs for ladies and gentlemen by Paul Farnsworth for the 1986 production of The Spershott Version.

The Spershott Version was a promenade performance that traveled the streets of Chichester and drew on a large community cast. It was presented to celebrate the history of Chichester as part of the 25th festival season of Chichester Festival Theatre.

The production is based on the memoirs of James Spershott a  joiner born in Chichester in the 18th Century, featuring stories on the Plague, John Keats, William Blake and much more.

From the CFT archive held at the West Sussex Records Office

Archive: Set Design, Terra Nova (1980)

This design for Terra Nova features an Antarctic landscape and the characters Roald Admundsen and Robert Scott.

Terra Nova tells of Captain Scott’s doomed expedition to the South Pole. It was performed at Chichester Festival theatre in the hot summer of 1980.

The designer, Pamela Howard, created a frozen landscape by covering the stage in white muslin, draped in a way that drew inspiration from details of the original voyage, such as Scott’s ship and the icebergs the team encountered.

So successful was the evocation of the Antarctic that it was said the audience shivered.

From CFTs memorabilia collection

Archive: Ticket stubs (1963)

Ticket stubs collected by founding members of the Theatre Society, Gibbons collection.

CFT archive held at West Sussex Record Office.

Archive: Costume design, Grapes of Wrath (2009)

Design for Grandma Joad’s costume next to one for campment extra’s in Grapes Of Wrath, 2009.  Photocopied drawing on paper by Simon Higlett, A4, in the prompt bible for Grapes of Wrath held at West Sussex Record Office.

Archive: Blueprints, Festival Theatre auditorium (1962)

Blue print plans for the stage and lower tiers of the auditorium

Blue print plans for the balcony and upper tiers of the auditorium

Designed by Powell and Moya, H108 X W150cm

CFT archive, held at West Sussex Record Office.