Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra and Trevor Nunn-Directed Kiss Me Kate on Tap for Chichester Festival Theatre

The upcoming season of the Chichester Festival Theatre will feature Kim Cattrall leading Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, a Trevor Nunn-directed revival of Kiss Me Kate and more.

Kiss Me Kate begins its run June 18 and will continue through September 1. No casting for the classic musical, which features a score by Cole Porter and book by Sam and Bella Spewak, has been announced. In Antony and Cleopatra Cattrall plays opposite Michael Pennington (The Syndicate, The Master Builder). Directed by Janet Suzman and featuring design by Peter McKintosh and music by Corin Buckeridge, the production runs September 12 through September 29. 

The Chichester season begins with Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, directed by Jeremy Herrin. Performances will run from March 30 through April 28. The cast features Roger Allam, Dervla Kirwan and Timothy West. William’s Congreve’s The Way of the World, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, follows from April 13 through May 5, starring Penelope Keith as Lady Wishfort.

The world premiere of Hugh Whitemore’s A Marvellous Year For Plums then runs May 11 through June 2. Directed by Philip Franks, the production features music by Matthew Scott and design by Simon Higlett. The political thriller examines the Suez Crisis in 1956. No cast has been announced. Next up is Michael Wynne's Canvas from May 18 through June 16. Directed by Angus Jackson, with design by Jonathan Fensom, the comedy takes a look at the dilemmas and struggles of modern life. 

Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo UI follows from June 29 through July 28. The show tells the story of Chicago in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Henry Goodman stars as the title character, with direction by Jonathan Church, music by Matthew Scott and design by Simon Higlet.

Derek Jacobi leads Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House as Capatin Shotover from July 6 through August 25. The production is directed by Richard Clifford, and features design by Stephen Brimson Lewis and music by Jason Carr. On the brink of World War I, Ellie Dunn, her father and her fiancée attend a house party at the home of eccentric Captain Shotover. The guests are soon divided by Ellie’s pragmatic decision to marry for money, not love. 

Next up is Surprises, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn, from August 8 through September 8. Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular will also run from August 10 through September 8. Rounding out the season will be Noël Coward’s Private Lives with direction by Jonathan Kent. The production will star star Anna Chancellor and Toby Stephens as Amanda and Elyot, a rich and reckless divorced couple, who meet five years after their marriage ends while on honeymoon with their new spouses.