Chichester Festival Theatre is to stream a selection of its archive productions online, beginning with the musical Flowers For Mrs. Harris, which will be free to watch on CFT's web site from Thursday 9 April to Friday 8 May.
Daniel Evans and Kathy Bourne, Artistic and Executive Directors respectively of CFT, said, "we are delighted that, thanks to the generous agreement of all the artists involved, we are able to make Flowers for Mrs Harris available for people to watch for free at home. Initially, this was intended to be no more than an archive recording, but we felt that the themes of kindness and compassion might bring a bit of joy to people's lives during these very difficult conditions. While the theatre itself is closed, we are determined to keep working behind the scenes to bring theatre to people at home."
Based on a novella by Paul Gallico and written by Rachel Wagstaff, the musical tells the story of Ada Harris, a charlady in post-war London whose drab life of dusting and scrubbing is transformed when she glimpses a Christian Dior dress belonging to one of her clients and sets her heart on going to Paris to buy one for herself.
This 2018 CFT production is directed by Daniel Evans with a cast led by Clare Burt, Joanna Riding and Gary Wilmot. The production is designed by Lez Brotherston with musical supervision and musical direction by Tom Brady, orchestrations by Richard Taylor, lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by Mike Walker, movement by Naomi Said and casting by Charlotte Sutton.
Donations to CFT's Keep Connected appeal have been invited. A digital programme is available to buy and read online.