Anyone visiting the beautiful Oaklands Park in Chichester in West Sussex in the Summer is enthralled by the beautiful setting for the famous Chichester Festival Theatre, and the smaller Minerva Theatre.
There is nothing nicer on a balmy summer's evening than sitting outside the theatre in the interval sipping a glass of champagne and looking over the pristine park.
Although the theatre operates throughout the year, it is the annual Summer Festival everyone looks forward to. With top stars and great plays at both theatres it is the place to go in the summer months.
This year Chichester's Artistic Director Jonathan Church has announced three musicals in one of the best programmes they have had.
She Loves Me, May 9 - 18 June
The first of the trio to open is She Loves Me with book by Joe Masteroff, Music by Jerry Bock and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick it is based on a play be Miklos Laszio.
The show is a warm-hearted love story between two pen friends. Georg and Amalia work together in a 1930's parfumerie. They are continually squabbling but find escape in the anonymous love letters they write to each other at night, unaware who they are writing to.
The show is directed by Stephen Mear and is at the smaller of the two theatres, the Minerva.
Singing In The Rain, 27th June - 10th September
This world-famous show is based on the MGM film and includes all the well-known songs, Make 'em laugh, Good Morning, Moses Supposes and Singing in the Rain.
Directed by Jonathan Church it shimmers with vintage charm and style, telling the story of the first Hollywood talkie and takes place in the Festival Theatre,
It takes you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood and is a musical to lift your heart and set your feet tapping.
Sweeney Todd, 24th September - 5 November
The last musical of the Season is Sweeney Todd which takes place in the Festival Theatre. Starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton it is a story of corruption and revenge.
The music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim and it is generally regarded to be his masterpiece. The show contains brilliant wit and dark humour as well as a brilliant score.
Set in 19th Century London it tells the story of Sweeney Todd (Ball) who has been falsely imprisoned for years so is out for retribution and justice.
He is aided and abetted in his quest by pie shop owner Mrs Lovett (Stanunton) as he sets out to avege the wrong doings done to him and his family.
A great, gruesome tale to end the 2011 season. To find out more or to book tickets you can click on to the Chichester Festival Theatre website
Amanda Wilkins - I am really looking forward to giving you news on all the latest shows and getting to know the other excellent contributors to this ...
