Chichester, the historic cathedral city in West Sussex, boasts a rich and vibrant artistic heritage. Over centuries, it has nurtured and showcased creativity across disciplines – from Roman mosaics to 20th-century theatre and contemporary visual arts. Its artistic story mirrors broader shifts in British culture while retaining a strong local identity.
Chichester’s Artistic Legacy Through the Ages
Roman Beginnings
Chichester’s relationship with the arts can be traced back nearly two millennia. Known as Noviomagus Reginorum during Roman Britain, the city was an important administrative and cultural centre. Archaeological discoveries, particularly the remarkable mosaics at Fishbourne Roman Palace (just outside Chichester), highlight the sophistication of Roman artistry. These mosaics, dating from the 1st century AD, feature intricate designs and storytelling scenes, suggesting a thriving tradition of visual decoration and a taste for luxury among the elite.
Roman Chichester likely hosted dramatic performances, religious festivals, and public art displays, reflecting the broader Roman commitment to civic culture. However, following the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the early 5th century, much of this infrastructure fell into decline.
Medieval Revival and Ecclesiastical Art
The city’s artistic fortunes revived with the establishment of Chichester Cathedral in the 11th-century. Completed in 1108 and rebuilt after a fire in 1187, the Cathedral remains one of Chichester’s most iconic buildings, embodying centuries of craftsmanship and religious art. Its Norman and Gothic architectural features – soaring arches, intricate stone carvings, and stained glass – epitomize the medieval love of grandeur and storytelling through visual means.
Later, in the modern period, the Cathedral continued to embrace contemporary art. In the 20th-century, it famously commissioned works from leading artists such as Graham Sutherland, whose tapestry “Christ in Glory” dominates the building’s interior, and Marc Chagall, whose stained-glass window was installed in 1978.
The Georgian and Victorian Eras
During the Georgian period, Chichester prospered as a regional market town. Although it remained smaller and less cosmopolitan than cities like Bath or London, Chichester nurtured a genteel culture of music, portraiture, and amateur dramatics.
Chichester’s Assembly Rooms, built in 1781, provided a venue for concerts, balls, and theatrical performances. These gatherings promoted music and performance as key elements of social life among the city’s middle and upper classes.
The Victorian era further developed these traditions. The arrival of the railway in 1846 made the city more accessible, encouraging the flow of ideas and people. Public lectures, amateur dramatics societies, and art exhibitions became increasingly common. The Victorian passion for history and the Gothic Revival also led to sensitive restorations of Chichester Cathedral and other historic sites, blending preservation with artistic creativity.
20th-Century Transformations: Theatre, Sculpture, and Modern Art
The 20th-century marked a major flowering of the arts in Chichester, beginning with the establishment of the Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) in 1962. Visionary artistic director Sir Laurence Olivier was appointed its first leader, and the Festival Theatre quickly became one of Britain’s premier regional venues.
The theatre’s architecture was groundbreaking, with its open thrust stage (designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya) encouraging intimacy between actors and audiences. Its first season featured a company including Olivier himself, and productions at CFT soon gained national and international acclaim. The theatre launched the careers of countless British actors and directors, and became closely associated with innovative interpretations of Shakespeare and new plays.
Elsewhere, Chichester’s embrace of modern art continued to deepen. The Pallant House Gallery, opened in 1982 in a beautiful Queen Anne townhouse, became a major centre for modern British art. Its collection includes works by Lucian Freud, Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, and Gwen John. Importantly, Pallant House has also championed outsider art and given space to lesser-known, marginalized artists, broadening the city’s artistic profile.
Public sculpture has also flourished in Chichester, often blending traditional craftsmanship with modern styles. Notable examples include John Skelton’s statue of St Richard of Chichester and Philip Jackson’s various sculptures around the city.
Contemporary Arts Scene
Today, Chichester continues to thrive as a cultural hub. The Chichester Festival Theatre remains a powerhouse of British drama, producing both classic and new works. Its annual summer festival attracts leading names from the West End and beyond.
Meanwhile, Pallant House Gallery has expanded, adding a contemporary wing designed by Long & Kentish and Colin St John Wilson. The Gallery’s programming balances retrospectives of major modernist figures with exhibitions of emerging talent, ensuring that Chichester’s artistic life remains dynamic and forward-looking.
Smaller arts organisations also flourish. The Oxmarket Contemporary, housed in a deconsecrated medieval church, offers space for local and national artists to exhibit their work. The Chichester International Film Festival, hosted by the New Park Cinema, brings world cinema to the city every August.
Music remains a vital part of the city’s artistic ecosystem. Chichester Cathedral maintains an active program of concerts and choral performances, while other venues host jazz, folk, and contemporary music festivals.
Chichester Fringe 2025: Full Line-up and Highlights
A prime example of the creativity found in the city is the Chichester Fringe. This year, the Fringe will be packing over 50 artists and companies into two weeks, from Saturday 31st May to Saturday 14th June. There will be an exciting range of performances, ranging from clowning, theatre and music through to comedy and cabaret.
Carol Webb, Chichester Fringe Director, says: “For 2025, the Fringe is hosting many new performances that are taking place in exciting new venues across the city. There is so much on offer across all genres of the arts.”
Direct from Edinburgh Fringe, Confessions of a Teletubby (14th June) takes to One-O-Four’s stage. Discover the truth with the original LaaLaa as she spills the beans on what it took to become one of the world’s most famous giant yellow puppets.
Comedians from all over the country bring their shows to the Fringe, including Jaz Mattu (7th June), Shalaka Kurup (6th June), Andrew White (10th June), Bryan Stoops (6th June) and Cordelia Graham (6th June).
From Chekov’s The Seagull (11th-13th June) to Potted Pride and Prejudice (4th June), you can get your theatrical fix throughout the Fringe. Local theatre company Kitchen Sink Productions bring their new production Things A Bright Young Queer Can Do to The Old Court Room (7th June), illuminating the voices of LGBTQ+ people exploring their identities, challenges, successes, and dreams, offering a poignant reflection on queerhood and our shared collective experiences.
At Christ Church, a new venue for the Fringe, two plays will take place on 13th June: Grandma’s Shop, the Edinburgh Fringe 5-star hit, and Escape the Rat Race, full of witty musical numbers that affectionately hold a mirror up to the joys and mundanity of the working world – a must-see for anyone who has ever worked in an office.
For music lovers, the Fringe is hosting a music night at JAM Cafe with brand new artists sharing their own work (3rd June), MC’d by Ruby Bodenham. For the first time folk music is part of the line-up with performances from Oving Folk (7th June) and The South Downs Folk Singers (1st June). If you are after an intimate music experience, book to see musicians Mia Reed or David Robinson, who will be performing in New Park’s Picture Palace on Saturday 7th June, but book fast as there are only 13 seats per show!
This year sees a new educational collaboration with the University of Chichester and Havant and South Downs College. Working closely with the team at the University, this year’s InterACT Festival (13th June) and Acting Showcase (11th June) will be ticketed through Chichester Fringe for the first time, and tickets are free. InterACT is a day-long festival of performance work from the graduating students of BA (Hons) Theatre, BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre & Directing & BA (Hons) Acting students at the University of Chichester. A collection of dynamic solo performances, directed work, productions, workshops, installations, and celebration of work created this year.
Havant and South Downs College’s Pivoital Performance Company will also be performing their new production of The Seagull on 11th, 12th and 13th June at its South Downs theatre venue.
Havana, Christ Church, The University of Chichester, Havant and South Downs College and JAM cafe have officially been added to the venue line-up with returning venues including The Old Court Room in the City Council Building, New Park Centre Studio, Chichester City Arts Centre, The Picture Palace, Chichester Canal Cafe, Richmond boat, and One-O-Four.
Tickets are on sale now at chichesterfringe.co.uk
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