Chichester Festival Theatre

I’ve only been to Chichester once, for South Pacific last year. Had booked that and The Unfriend when they were originally scheduled, so will try to see The Unfriend if I can, but Crazy for You has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works there as they don’t overlap and it’s a bit far/awkward to try to plan two separate trips down there.

The other show I’m intrigued by is The Famous Five, not because I have any particular interest in the material, but because it’s a coproduction with one of my local theatres, Theatr Clwyd, so will probably end up seeing that up here.

I'm a bit disappointed by this year's programme, although I've seen Our Generation at the NT and have booked Southbury Child at the Bridge. It's a shame Doubt had such a short run - I think I'd have preferred it to any of the upcoming plays. I will probably go to either Woman in Mind or The Unfriend, just for the enjoyment of a day trip to Chichester.

I like Roy Williams but I think he is a bit overexposed at the moment.

I wonder if The Flock, which was pulled during rehearsals last year, will ever return.

Yes , Its about 90 mins direct from London Victoria. 

Only if the trains are running! Need to be careful to check for engineering works.

And getting back to London after an evening show can be a pain, I only ever go to matinées at Chichester.

Love a return to the town where I was born. True blue me

Apparently they’re hoping to tour The Famous Five, with a possible West End transfer too, as long as it’s well received.

That's interesting, as they haven't emailed members yet to announce the announcement - as it were. When I was there last week I asked if they knew when it would be and was told only second half of February, so that much was correct. It seems so much later than other new season announcements that I'll actually be half-relieved if there's little I want to see as I don't know how I'd fit in several more full day trips.

Beautiful walk through a wonderful quaint English city though. If you walk on the way up I’d take the opportunity to explore Chichester

It really isn't a long walk from the theatre to the station! I know it depends on your pace but I can do it in 12 minutes if the streets are quiet (eg after a long matinee or an evening performance when I used to attend these), though 15 minutes is more comfortable if you're not dashing for an infrequent train.

Pallant House gallery (in Pallant Street, parallel to the main north-south axis of the town centre) has really interesting exhbitions and a good permanent collection; there are some beautiful gardens in which to sit out in warmer weather; some independent shops as well as the usual chains; the cathedral; remnants of the old city walls and so on. If you don't go too often so it becomes over-familiar, as any town would, Chichester is an attractive place for a day out, based on theatre or not, or a weekend break.

There is also a fantastic secondhand bookshop on the walk to/from the station, so take your books wishlist if you have one. 

My wife loves the charity shops. They tend to have far better quality clothes donated than our local shops. 

Also note the advance rail fares from London are amazingly cheap. With a railcard it only costs me £3.60 each way.