University of Chichester Theatre Department

06/10/2026

We’re proud to share that our students have rated the theatre department 100% for Academic Support in the National Student Survey (NSS)! 🙌

We believe in creating a community where our students feel supported, challenged, encouraged and empowered to find their voice and reach their full potential. It's wonderful to see this reflected in our NSS results.

We think this result is particularly special for a department that actively encourages critique, questioning and debate - of our work, our practice and the world around us. Being able to challenge ideas, take creative risks and have difficult conversations is at the heart of what we do, and it's brilliant to see that our students know they have the support to do that. ❤️

A massive thank you to our students and to our brilliant dedicated staff for making this possible.

BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre & Directing

Photo Credit 📸: Ev Bell.

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

🎉 Tonight in the showroom our alumni company OnTheNose Productions!

THU 1st OCT | Full £8 | Conc £5 | AGE 16+

After their month-long run at the Edinburgh Fringe, OnTheNose Productions return to the Showroom with their smash-hit MAN!FEST: The Drag Boyband Musical. Ash (the bad boy), Ewan (the romantic boy), Cody (the sporty boy), and Ruben (the… other boy) are kicking off their second tour as the biggest boyband in the world, MAN!FEST. There’s just one catch; they’re played by women.

Their tweenage fangirls are maturing and the threat of female empowerment and independence looms.
With constant pressure from management, and an overwhelming sense of duty to their screaming groupies, MAN!FEST fights from collapsing as the demand for perfection reaches impossible heights.

A riotous drag musical that exposes toxic masculinity and its effect on boybands and fangirls. Made with support from the CFT Artists Development Programme.

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire
OnTheNose Productions

29/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our alumni Joanna Rose who after graduating from ChiTheatre in 2015 and spending nearly 10 years as a drama teacher, has just enjoyed a professional run of the new musical S*x and Disability in London.

Funny, frank and unapologetically human, S*x & Disability – The Musical asks what happens when desire, love, intimacy, independence and connection collide with the realities of disability and care.

The production features an entirely disabled cast, bringing together performers with both physical and invisible disabilities. Their lived experiences bring depth and authenticity to a musical that challenges stereotypes while celebrating love, intimacy and independence. Featuring an original score by acclaimed composer Mishkin Fitzgerald, the production is written by Damian Darkness, an Army veteran whose life changed dramatically after surviving a stroke that left him permanently disabled.

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire
Joanna Rose

28/09/2026

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

We will be running a photography workshop for any Chi Theatre students interested in joining the department’s volunteer photography team. No experience or camera required.

When: Tuesday 6th October @ 5pm - 6pm

Where: The Showroom

Who: You!

We’ll teach you how to take performance photos, upload them for the students to use, and book out equipment! Please contact Aimee (Aimee), Ev (Ev Bell), or Lucy (Lucy Ellis) to confirm attendance!

27/09/2026

This week, we hosted our first Creative Conversation in collaboration with Chichester Festival Theatre.

Creative Conversations are regular talks for local artists, students and creatives to discover opportunities, hear from industry professionals, and make valuable connections. Hosted by CFT Creative Associate Sophie Hobson, this year they will be taking place on campus in the Theatre Department during our Festival Weeks.

Our first conversation introduced students to opportunities to engage with CFT, with contributions from staff across the wonderful CFT team.

We’ll be hosting more Creative Conversations during our festival weeks, with future talks featuring a number of exciting professionals working across directing, producing, performing, arts management and funding.

Alumni and local artists are warmly welcome to join us.

📅 The next Creative Conversation is on 19th November.

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire

26/09/2026

🎭 Last night we rounded off a busy first week with a trip to Chichester Festival Theatre for press night of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with more than 30 of our staff and students in the audience.

CFT’s 1990s rave-inspired take on Shakespeare’s comedy brings the magic of the play to the South Downs. It was a really fun evening and especially lovely to spot so many of our alumni in the audience and working across the building. We hope this is the first of many more trips our students will make over to CFT this academic year.

Huge thanks to Chichester Festival Theatre for their support.

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire

25/09/2026

🎉 ​Yesterday was an inspiring day of learning and connection for our students.

The day began with a student-led picnic, and then a visit to Chichester Festival Theatre The Nest to watch Just To Say by Olivia Coppin, followed by an evening at the showroom to watch our alumni company Red Biscuit. To round off the night, our students hosted After Hours, a post-show discussion, generating thoughtful conversation and peer-to-peer engagement around the work.

Moments like these highlight the strength of our creative community and the continuous bridge between our current cohorts, industry professionals, local environment and our talented alumni. ⭐

BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre & Directing

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire

24/09/2026

🎉 We are so excited for tonight!

We are kicking off the Showroom Programme tonight. Our alumni company Red Biscuit will be performing Little Town Blue to our new and returning students!

See you there at 7.30pm

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire
Red Biscuit

23/09/2026

🎉 Introducing our new Level 6 students!

We’re delighted to welcome our Level 6 cohort as they begin their final year with us. This is an exciting stage in their journey, as they showcase their practice, deepen their creative thinking and begin to shape the professional pathways they’ll take beyond university.

We’ve been hugely impressed by their focus, thoughtfulness and commitment this week. It’s also fantastic to hear about the range of work placements and industry opportunities some of our students will be undertaking this year — a brilliant way to connect their university experience with the wider creative industries.

We can’t wait to see what this cohort creates. Here’s to a year of ambitious work, professional growth and exciting opportunities.⭐

BA (Hons) Acting
BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre & Directing

University of Chichester
University of Chichester Conservatoire