Chichester Fringe is back for its third year! Find out what theatre shows we have on offer.
Looking for things to do in Chichester this June?
We are spoilt for choice this year, with our events ranging from comedy to poetry and dance to music. This week, we are going to shine a spotlight on our theatre events.
From solo performances to companies and full days of theatre, there is so much to choose from this year. Chichester Fringe is also very happy to welcome back some returning performers and introduce some new ones. So, here it all is…
INTRODUCING: Fringe in a Day!
This year we have two Fringe in a Day events. Fringe in a Day is a new event for 2023 where you can buy a £15 day pass for a day of theatre or purchase an individual ticket from £5 for each performance.
Fringe in a Day @ Chichester City Arts Centre (01st June)
“Chichester City Arts Centre is a new arts and community hire venue close to the city centre”. We are thrilled to have this wonderful venue for our first event in Chichester Fringe 2023.
We are excited to welcome back Chichester Fringe 2022 performers: Freshly Squeezed Theatre, as well as five new companies; Theatre Non Grata, Coin Drop Theatre, Enlight Insight Theatre, Moonhawk Productions and RD Productions. Each of these companies offer such differing performances (see below) that with our Fringe in a Day there will be something for everyone!
Current programme includes:
Confessions of A Self Tape (Enlight Insight Theatre)
Confessions Of A Self Tape is a post dramatic performance exploring “coming out” as part of the queer community. (Devised, Semi-Autobiographical). Age Guidance: All Ages
EVERYTHING, ALWAYS: THE MEMORIAL? (Freshly Squeezed)
Adrift (Moonhawk Productions & RD Productions)
Four Letter Word (Moonhawk Productions & RD Productions)
How beautiful can life be? (Coin `Drop Theatre)
Rob or Rose? (Theatre Non Grata)
Fringe in a day @ 104 (10th June)
Our second Fringe in a Day event will be hosted at One-O-Four, “a vibrant building with a range of facilities in the city centre of Chichester.”
Current programme includes:
Life In A Green Suit (Elizabeth McNally)
Set at a military funeral, the performer reflects on her life as a serving officer and military wife and the impact the lifestyle has had on her marriage and children. (One-Woman, Semi-Autobiographical). Age Guidance: All Ages
COME TO OUR SHOW (please) (Cathy Wippell & David Bruckner)
Hugh the Musical (Belle Street)
Join us for a Night of New Theatre (01st June)
This evening of new theatre includes short plays, to work in progress pieces being performed for the very first time, Tickets for this event are £10 (£8 for concessions) and will be performed at One-O-Four.
We welcome back Chichester Fringe 2022 performers: Crystal Turner-Brightman performing Lady Bug, ‘an autobiographical performance exploring experiences of recovery after a photoshoot goes wrong’, and Jack Stone performing The Emergence of Us, ‘As we go through our lives, the people we are change and replace one another. How would you fare if, every now and then, they all reunited to see who the new addition was going to be?’
We are also excited to welcome Natalie Bellingham performing Look After Your Knees, ‘a celebration of being human in all its banality, sprinkled with joy and ridiculousness. Performed by a clown delving into the space inside us left behind by loss’.
And, Tea with Marjorie by Ragtime Priory Theatre, ‘the story of a Great-Grandmother and her Grandson, unpacking the significance of intergenerational relations through a series of light-hearted stories’. As well as the playwright Roger Goldsmith with his work Speechless, ‘two teenagers sit next to each other on a bus every day of the week. They don't know it, but they have something in common. Will they ever talk and find out what that something is?’
We have other individual events too!
The theatre doesn’t stop there, during the festival we have plenty of individual performances:
On June 3rd at Chichester City Arts Centre we have a spooky double bill, tickets can be bought individually for £7 each or as a double bill ticket for £12.
At 19:30, Original Case Theatre presents The Tragical Performance and Retelling of Doctor Faustus, ‘a play within a play, in which Matthew Cricket is trying to create the greatest production of Faustus the world has seen. In his commitment he accidentally summons the demon, Toph and hellish antics ensue.’
Following this, at 9pm, C.J Carter Simpson will be reading his horror work.
C.J holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Southampton, with three books published, including a children's science fiction novel called 'The Crystal Ship', which won a silver award from Children's Literary Classics in 2012. Both of these performances hold age guidelines of 12+ but may be unsuitable for some viewers as there may be some frightening moments.
On June 16th at Graylingwell Chapel, Dionysus Theatre will perform La Mouette, an exciting fresh take on Chekhov's 'The Seagull'.‘In an isolated chateau in the French countryside where dreams are in tatters, hopes dashed, hearts broken and there is nowhere left to turn, the only option is to turn on each other.’
La Mouette is recommended for ages 12+ with depictions of suicide and drug taking. Tickets are £10 (Concessions £7).
On June 18th, our final 2023 festival day, also at Graylingwell Chapel, Kuckoo Theatre presents a brand new short play, especially for Chichester Fringe, Dust.
‘A breeze blows through the condemned building. Disturbing a layer of dust. What happens when the dust settles and things have been forgotten?’.
In the afternoon, Alice Applewood will be performing A Day to Remember, the life and songs of Doris Day, the face of romantic comedies throughout the 1950s and 60s.
The show is family friendly and suitable for all ages, although there will be reference to abusive relationships. This is a relaxed, accessible performance and hearing loops will be available.
We can't wait to see you.
We have new venues, new events and amazing line ups – now we just need you.
You can browse all of our events including comedy, music and more on our website.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chichester Fringe 2023.
- Written by Emily Doye