Chichester Festival Youth Theatre wow the crowds at launch of Festival of Chichester

The 2014 Festival of Chichester took to the streets and pitched camp on the Cathedral Green as the organisers went public with this year’s brochure.
Festival of Chichester launchFestival of Chichester launch
Festival of Chichester launch

A fantastic line-up of 200-plus events will make Chichester the place to be this summer across a huge range of arts, community and environmental activities.

Brochures and fliers were printed last week; and the Festival officially launched on Saturday, with a fun-packed afternoon of entertainment provided by the Festival’s friends and supporters.

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Chichester Festival Youth Theatre drew huge crowds to the Cathedral Green as they reprised scenes from their Christmas hit, Roald Dahl’s The Witches. First the blonde ‘witches’ mingled with the crowds, firing their curiosity. Then they drew them to the Green.

The Witches at Festival of Chichester launchThe Witches at Festival of Chichester launch
The Witches at Festival of Chichester launch

Most surprised of all was six-year-old Krishan Shah Taylor, visiting the city to see his grandparents. Just the night before he’d been reading exactly the same chapter the Youth Theatre re-enacted. Moments before, his dad had said ‘Let’s hope the witches haven’t taken over Chichester!’ They had!

The Youth Theatre were followed by dancers from the Univeristy of Chichester, with senior dance tutor Ann Nugent joining in as they created entrancing shapes in free-flowing movement.

After another session from the Youth Theatre, rock ‘n’ roller Colin Page kept up the fun with a set ranging from Buddy Holly to Grease and from Eddie Cochran to Status Quo.

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Rounding off the afternoon Linda Kelsall-Barnett and her daughters Tamzin and Zoe, representing the West Sussex Guitar Club, offered a beautiful set including a superb Fly Me To The Moon.

Zoe Kelsall-Barnett at launch of Festival of ChichesterZoe Kelsall-Barnett at launch of Festival of Chichester
Zoe Kelsall-Barnett at launch of Festival of Chichester

The Festival committee is Phil Hewitt (Festival chairman), Barry Smith (Festival co-ordinator), Helen Watt, Anne Scicluna, Roger Redfarn, Felicity Masters and Anthony Cane.

The Festival of Chichester runs from June 14-July 13, with more details on www.festivalofchichester.co.uk.

Tickets from Chichester Tickets, Cloisters Shop, Cathedral Cloisters, Chichester, PO19 1PX; www.chichestertickets.co.uk; or telephone 01243 813595.