South Pacific

Organised by : Chichester Festival Theatre

Please note - rescheduled dates for 2021 to be confirmed.

This much-loved, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical opened in 1949 to huge success, becoming one of Broadways longest running hit shows. It boasts one of Rodgers and Hammersteins most memorable scores, featuring songs such as Some Enchanted Evening, Im Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Bali Hai.

1943. On an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, US troops are kicking their heels amid the cacao groves while restlessly waiting for the war to reach them.

Nellie Forbush, a navy nurse from Arkansas, finds herself falling for the French plantation owner, Emile de Becque a man with a mysterious past. The scheming sailor Luther Billis runs a makeshift laundry to earn a quick buck, but hes no match for the Polynesian Bloody Mary whos intent on exploiting these foreigners.

When young Princeton graduate Lieutenant Joe Cable is flown in on a dangerous reconnaissance mission, love and fear become entwined as the islands battle for hearts and minds begins.

This new production is directed by Artistic Director Daniel Evans whose previous Chichester productions include This Is My Family, Quiz and Fiddler on the Roof.

Making their Chichester debuts are Gina Beck (Matilda, Show Boat, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera) as Nellie, Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Grand Hotel, BBC Proms, Downton Abbey) as Emile, Joanna Ampil (Avenue Q, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon) as Bloody Mary, and Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza) as Cable.