The Southbury Child

Organised by : Chichester Festival Theatre

Triple Olivier Award-winner Alex Jennings returns to Chichester to lead the cast in Stephen Beresfords very funny new play a deeply humane exploration of family, faith, tradition and tolerance in a rapidly changing world.

Sharp-witted, wilful and frequently drunk, vicar David Highland has kept a grip on his parish through a combination of disordered charm and high-handed determination. But when his conscience forces him to take a hard line with a parishioner who wants Disney balloons at a family funeral, he finds himself dangerously isolated from public opinion. As his own family begins to fracture, David must face a future that threatens to extinguish not only his position in the town, but everything he stands for.

Stephen Beresfords work includes The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre, an adaptation of Bergmans Fanny & Alexander for The Old Vic and the BAFTA-winning film Pride.

Alex Jenningss many theatre credits range from My Fair Lady to Stuff Happens and Hansard at the NT, as well as Hamlet for the RSC. His screen work includes The Crown, The Lady in the Van, The Queen, Victoria, A Very English Scandal and This Is Going to Hurt.

The cast also includes Holly Atkins, Jack Greenlees, Jo Herbert, Phoebe Nicholls, Racheal Ofori and Sarah Twomey.

Nicholas Hytner also makes a welcome return to Chichester. Director of the National Theatre from 2003-2015, he is Co-Founder of The Bridge Theatre.

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